Personal Injury Claim Lawyers.

Find out more about the team and the type of work we do, by clicking on the link opposite and downloading our brochure.

Listen here to Dawn Humphries from the Personal Injury team, chatting about the challenges faced by people and their families when dealing with brain injuries.

In this episode Dawn Humphries & Alex Spanner from the Personal Injury team are chatting with local legend Mickey Bushell MBE. Mickey is an Paralympic gold medallist and qualified personal trainer, who works with disabled people to help improve their physical and mental well-being.

The Personal Injury Team is recognised in Tier 2 for the West Midlands in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500, which states: ‘The ‘very client-centred’ team at Lanyon Bowdler is ably led by Dawn Humphries. Humphries excels in serious brain and spinal injuries. She is also well-regarded for her work on employers’ liability claims that arise from accidents at work, particularly at construction sites.  Debbie Humphries is recommended for her representation of clients who have sustained life-changing injuries. Phillip Roberts is also noted, and has particular experience in areas such as accident at work cases and loss of limbs claims. Associate Karen Clarke is another notable member of the practice’.

Work Highlights

The 2025 of the Legal 500 includes the following work highlights:

Represented claimant in PI claim against a well-known sporting activities franchise, where claimant sustained a C5 fracture of the neck rendering him tetraplegic, resulting in a claim estimated to be worth over £10m.

Represented claimant in PI claim against employer, having sustained fractures to L2, 3, 4 and 5 after falling from a roof. Contentious evidence in respect of quantum led to negotiations which successfully secured a £500,000 settlement for the client.

Represented claimant via their litigation friend in a PI claim against a defendant driver, successfully negotiating a settlement of £2.9m ahead of a liability trial.

Chambers UK 2025 rank the department in Band 1 in the Midlands and states ‘Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors is a leading Shropshire firm advising on an extensive breadth of personal injury cases, including high-value RTA and accident-at-work claims. The firm is particularly experienced in acting for clients with spinal and cerebral injuries. The team is skilled in handling military cases and accidents abroad. It also works alongside clinical negligence and Court of Protection teams to fully support clients’.

Strengths

“The case was very complex, and any issues that came up with the case, the firm did its utmost to work them out.”

“Lanyon Bowdler has a wide knowledge base. The team are very good at responding and provide clients with a high level of support.”

“All communication was appropriately fast and always put into suitable non-legal layman terms.”

“It is easy to get in contact with the team and they are always open to discussing the complexities of each case. The service they provide to their clients is excellent.”

Notable practitioners

Dawn Humphries handles a wide range of orthopaedic and spinal injury claims. She is active on an array of personal injury cases, including those relating to workplace accidents and RTAs.

“Dawn is very highly regarded, clients love her and she’s very down to earth.”

“Dawn is empathetic and sympathetic but very calmly assertive when it came to pushing back onto defence.”

“She is really on the ball and is open to having a discussion on how to improve the case.”

Debbie Humphries is highlighted for her experience in handling a full range of severe injury matters, including motor incidents and accidents at work.

“Debbie supports her clients with a balance of compassion and sector knowledge.”

If you have suffered a personal injury, your first priority will always be to focus on your health, and recovering to the fullest. Starting a claim may not be the first thought on your mind. However, you may wish to pursue compensation for a personal injury at a later date, and might wonder whether your case is still valid some time after the accident.

The general rule for Personal Injury Claims in the UK is that they are valid for up to three years from the date of the accident. This is the time claimants have to formally begin their claim, and receiving advice before this deadline is not enough.

There are, however, a number of circumstances that may affect this time limit.

Firstly, if the extent of your injuries was not fully evident at the time of the accident, but is only diagnosed at a later date, you may bring a claim for personal injury up to three years from the date of knowledge rather than the date of the accident.

In cases in which a child injury claim is brought forward, the limit only applies to the child once they reach the age of 18 – meaning they may bring their injury claim, with a litigation friend, up to their 21st birthday.

Those who lack mental capacity under the Mental Health Act 1983 will only be subject to the time limit from the day their mental incapacity is removed.

If the claim is made in regards to an injury resulting in a fatality, then the three year time limit will begin on the date of the death, and not the date of the original accident.

Injuries sustained in a criminal incident must be claimed for within two years of the incident. This also applies to child injuries, which are under the same limit of two years, regardless of the age of the child. Injuries sustained on an aeroplane or ship are also usually subject to the shorter two year time limit for personal injury compensation.

It should be noted that these time limits could be subject to changes, and the court may amend or extend your time limit depending on the circumstances of your accident or injury.

We have extensive experience across the full range of personal injury cases — no matter how your accident occurred, our team is here to help.

You may have been injured in a road traffic accident, whether as a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian. Perhaps you’ve suffered a workplace accident, such as a fall from height, exposure to unsafe machinery, or repetitive strain injuries. Or maybe you’ve been hurt in a public place due to unsafe premises or poor maintenance.

We also regularly help clients who have experienced more specific injuries — including sporting injuries, farming accidents, military injury claims, injuries caused by defective products, and criminal injury compensation cases.

We understand that no two cases are the same.

We’ll take time to understand the full impact of your injury and help you pursue the compensation and support you deserve.

We have experience in handling a wide range of claims such as:

• Accidents at work
• Criminal injuries
• Animal Injuries
• Military Injuries
• Road traffic accidents
• Public Accidents
• Farm Accidents
• Product Liability Claims
• Sporting Injuries
• Serious Injuries

Personal Injury Compensation amounts are calculated very carefully, considering not only your injuries, but also the wider repercussions of the accident on your quality of life, career, and personal life.

The amount of compensation you may receive is generally divided into two main categories:

General Damages

General damages in personal injury claims are awarded to compensate victims for the pain and suffering caused by an accident. These may include any compensation for long-term disability, disfigurement, and mental trauma.

The amounts can be complicated to calculate, which is why the English and Welsh legal systems have devised a collection of guidelines called the Judicial College Guidelines. These represent a standard starting point for your solicitor to calculate an appropriate amount of compensation you may be entitled to based on your injuries.

Special Damages

Special damages are calculated based on actual financial losses you may have incurred because of the accident. This includes both out-of-pocket expenses, such as medical and travel costs, and projected loss of future income because of a reduced ability to work. If you are left with a disability following the accident, you may also be entitled to be compensated for any adaptation you had to make to your home or vehicle.

Compensation awarded for personal injury is generally not taxable.

This means that any settlement you receive for pain, suffering, loss of earnings, or future care needs is usually exempt from income tax or capital gains tax.

However, in some rare cases — for example, if your compensation earns interest or is invested — there could be tax implications. If this applies to your claim, we will always provide clear guidance and work with financial experts to ensure everything is handled correctly.

To begin a personal injury claim, you don’t need to have everything perfectly prepared — that’s what we’re here to help with.

That said, it’s helpful to gather any evidence you have, such as medical records, photographs of your injury or the accident scene, details of any witnesses, and documentation of financial losses.

Most importantly, you simply need to speak to us. We’ll guide you through every step and help collect anything else you need along the way.

Even if you feel you may have been partly responsible for your accident, you may still be able to claim compensation.

In many cases, accidents happen due to shared responsibility — for example, where safety measures were missing or someone else’s negligence played a role. This is known as “contributory negligence,” and it doesn’t automatically stop you from receiving compensation.

We’ll assess the circumstances carefully and advise you honestly about your options.

Yes, absolutely. In many cases, you can bring a personal injury claim on behalf of someone else if they are unable to do so themselves.

This could be a child, an adult who lacks the mental capacity to handle their own legal affairs, or someone who has died as a result of their injuries.

You would usually act as a ‘litigation friend’ in these circumstances — and our team will guide you through exactly what that means and how the process works.

We understand that these situations can feel particularly emotional, and we’re here to offer both practical support and compassionate guidance throughout.

Yes, personal injury claims are usually subject to strict time limits. In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident — or from the date you became aware that your injury was caused by negligence — to begin a claim.

There are some exceptions, for example in cases involving children or those lacking mental capacity, where different rules may apply.

It’s always best to seek legal advice as soon as possible so we can protect your rights and make sure you don’t miss an important deadline.

Most of our personal injury claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis — which means you won’t have to pay anything upfront, and there’s no financial risk if your claim isn’t successful.

If your claim succeeds, your legal fees are usually covered by the other party. We’ll explain funding options clearly before you proceed, including how any success fee or insurance policy may work in your individual case.

We believe everyone should have access to justice — regardless of their financial situation.

Most personal injury claims are resolved without the need for a court hearing. In many cases, we are able to negotiate a fair settlement directly with the other side’s insurers.

However, if a claim is particularly complex — or if liability or compensation amounts are disputed — it may sometimes be necessary to take the case to court.

If that happens, we will be with you every step of the way, preparing you thoroughly and supporting you throughout the process. You’ll never face anything alone.