Spotlight: Irwin Mitchell UK

What do you consider to be the best outcome for a family that you support?

The best outcome is one that helps the individual and their family rebuild their lives in a way that is right for them. No legal process can undo a death or life-changing injury, and our role goes far beyond securing compensation. We listen carefully to what matters most to each family, guide them through the legal process with clarity and compassion, and help them access rehabilitation, treatment and practical support as early as possible.

For someone who has been seriously injured, this may mean maximising their recovery and independence and securing the specialist support they will need for the future. For a bereaved family, it may mean obtaining answers, ensuring their voice is heard and providing greater financial security. Ultimately, the best outcome is one that leaves the family feeling supported and better equipped to face the future.

How do you support individuals or families who have been affected by a collision oversea? How are your approach and processes different from a standard UK case?

When a serious road traffic collision occurs overseas, the legal issues are often only one part of the challenge. Individuals and families may also face unfamiliar legal systems, language barriers, overseas insurers and uncertainty about where a claim can be brought. Our first priority is to provide clear advice and practical support at what is often a deeply traumatic time. We help families understand their options, access rehabilitation and support services where possible, and receive coordinated advice through our network of trusted lawyers and experts around the world. These cases are handled exclusively by our international serious injury team, which specialises in supporting people injured while travelling or working abroad and has extensive experience of complex cross-border road traffic claims.

Unlike a standard UK road traffic claim, where liability, procedure and damages are generally governed by English law, an overseas case requires us to establish which country’s courts have jurisdiction, which law applies and whether the claim can be pursued in England or should be brought abroad.

We may also need evidence on foreign law, specialist translators and overseas experts. Our role is to navigate these international complexities and identify the route most likely to deliver the best outcome for the individual and their family. Our team also includes lawyers who are fluent in several languages, which can be particularly valuable in international cases.

How do you support Brake?

We have proudly supported Brake for many years, engaging with national conferences and family liaison officer events, including the After the Crash conference in recent years. Last year, we supported Brake’s first annual Rowan Tree Ball, while colleagues across many of our regional offices take part in the annual Big Tea Brake, helping to raise vital funds and awareness for Brake’s work supporting people affected by road crashes.

Irwin Mitchell is proud to support Brake's annual Road Safety Week campaign, using our expertise, client stories and charity partnerships to raise awareness of road safety, support bereaved families and seriously injured survivors, and contribute to national conversations aimed at reducing road death and life-changing injury. Through fundraising, thought leadership, media engagement including TV, and community outreach, we help amplify vital road safety messages while demonstrating our commitment to supporting those affected by road traffic crashes.

In June 2023, Jeff was on holiday in Germany when his life changed in an instant. He was travelling on his Triumph Tiger motorcycle when a large container became detached from a commercial vehicle travelling in the opposite direction and was thrown directly into his path. With no opportunity to avoid it, Jeff collided with the container at speed and sustained multiple severe injuries.

Before the collision, Jeff led an active and independent life. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, gardening and carrying out DIY projects around his home. Today, he is unable to return to many of the activities that were important to him and continues to live with significant physical and psychological consequences.

Following emergency treatment in Germany, Jeff spent several weeks in hospital there before being repatriated to hospital in the UK. Despite extensive surgery and rehabilitation, his injuries continue to affect every aspect of daily life, more than three years later. He experiences ongoing pain and mobility difficulties, often relies on a wheelchair and has required aids, adaptations and changes to his living arrangements to try to maintain as much independence as possible.

Jeff’s recovery has been made particularly challenging by the sheer number and complexity of the injuries he sustained. The physical impact of those injuries, combined with the emotional and psychological effects of adapting to a different way of life, has required remarkable resilience throughout his ongoing rehabilitation journey.

He has done all he can to get back to his pre-crash career as an aircraft safety and quality manager, but has recently realised that he cannot continue at this level.

Jeff has instructed Irwin Mitchell to help him secure the support he needs for the future. His case highlights the added complexities that can arise when a serious road traffic collision occurs abroad. Jeff lives in England but the collision happened in Germany and the other vehicle involved was registered and insured in Poland. Jeff is pursuing his case through the English courts, but it has involved international jurisdictional and foreign law elements.

Our international serious injury team continues to work alongside Jeff, helping him navigate these challenges while securing the specialist support and expert evidence needed to plan for his future.

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