Our Accident & Injury team offer expert advice on a range of claims.
Our wide experience and different areas of expertise mean we can assist with all types of claims for compensation, answer your questions, give straightforward advice and guide you through the process.
Make an appointment or come along on Saturday morning if you:
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have been involved in a car accident with minor injuries but don't want to deal with your car insurer's solicitor in Leeds;
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have suffered a servere injury at work and can't get back to work straight away or return to that job again;
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have had an accident on holiday or while travelling abroad;
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are unhappy or worried that the medical treatment you or a loved one has received is not as it should be;
As members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and acredited as specialists by the Law Society, Jennie Jones and her team are committed to providing those injured with answers to their questions:
Do I have a claim?
We give you an honest appraisal of your claim, chances of succeeding, how long it will take and wherever possible how much compensation you may receive. If you do not have a legal claim, we will tell you and explain why.
Will it cost me to talk to you?
No, we offer a free initial consultation. We will then tell you if we can act on a No Win No Fee basis or find out if you have existing insurance that may cover your claim. We will explain all this to you in plain english with straight talking advice. If your claim is successful, then you will keep your compensation.
I don't want to feel like I am dealing with an insurance call centre and have to explain myself each time I call, how are Nockolds different?
At Nockolds all our clients have a named individual who deals with their situation. They will know you, your claim and understand how the injury has altered your life. There is no faceless communication. We would like to meet you to discuss your claim and you can come in and talk about your claim at any time.
Flexibility and Accessibility:
We know how busy life can be, so we do offer evening appointments and Saturday Surgeries on the first Saturday of every month (9.30am - 1pm) at our Market Square offices in Bishops Stortford, we can also visit injured people at home, hospital or work depending on where it is most convenient.
Call Jennie or her team on 01279 755777 or email at accidents@nockolds.co.uk. Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form.
Ivan Moody (profile) 
Jennie Jones (profile) 
Rachel Davis (profile) 
Sunday 28th August 2011
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Add our "International Accident & Emergency Helpline Card" to your packing list
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The holiday season is now well underway. We all look forward to our holiday (once we are all packed, arrangements made, cat dropped off at the cattery and neighbours instructed on watering the tomato plants…). For most of us, the 7-14 nights away are bliss and give us important uninterrupted time with family & friends.
If it does not go according to plan, then at best we are left disappointed (and more stressed then when we left!) or at worst, needing medical attention. Over recent years, Jennie Jones and the Injury team at Nockolds have handled a range of claims arising from accidents on holiday. These include:
This year before you take your break, take a minute to know your basic legal rights.
Package Holidays:
If you have booked your holiday as a package (a combined price for transport, accommodation and, or excursions) then the holiday company are bound by English law under Package Travel Regulations. This allows the English court to deal with the claim and if you are successful and compensate you under English law. The company will also have to look after you in terms of getting you home and dealing with problems such as airline going bust!
Independent Travel:
More frequently, we now make travel plans independently, finding budget airline flights and our own accommodation. This gives us more flexibility but we do not have the same protection if something goes wrong or one of the companies involved goes bust.
There is some financial protection under the Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) Regulations 1995, but they will not bring you home.
If there is a problem while you are away, you are injured or the accommodation is not as expected, then what you can do depends on which law applies. Is it English law or that of your Holiday destination? Generally claims can be made here in England, but it is important to get advice from someone who specialises in these issues.
Consumer groups argue that the large organisations who use their websites to sell flights and bolt on hotel rooms, villas & car hire should provide the same protection to their customers as package holiday providers are required to.
However if you have paid for your Independent Holiday with your credit card you will have additional Consumer Protection.
This summer, Nockolds are running a free travel helpline and offering clients an emergency contact card to take on holiday .
DOWNLOAD YOURS HERE , PICK ONE UP FROM OUR MARKET SQUARE OFFICE, OR EMAIL JENNIE JONES jsj@nockolds.co.uk .
Clients can then get advice and guidance while they are away and hopefully make the most of what is left of the holiday or make sure they are in the best possible position to seek compensation when they get home. This service is part of the free initial consultation service offered by Jennie and her team.
Call Jennie on 01279 712537 for further information or to discuss your situation.
Alfonso Valero (profile) 
Dalila Segador (profile) 
Ivan Moody (profile) Jennie Jones (profile) Rachel Davis (profile) Tuesday 19th July 2011
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With over 20 confirmed deaths and 1000’s of people taken ill as a result of the e-coli outbreak in Germany people are starting to seriously look at what they eat and where it comes from. Nearly all those that have been affected live in, or have visited Germany but where did the e-coli bacteria come from?
Was it Spanish Cucumbers, German Bean Sprouts or something else which caused the deaths and illnesses? At the time of writing we still do not know for certain.
There are many causes of food poisoning but the most common causes are due to the preparation, cooking or handling of food in an improper manner. Food is available in many different places and so an illness or Personal Injury due to food poisoning can happen at home, in a restaurant, on a plane or ship, whilst on holiday or even at work.
How do you know if you have food poisoning?
The symptoms of food poisoning range from diahorea and vomiting to muscle aches, nausea stomach cramps and tiredness. Many of which are common to many other illnesses so it is important to see a doctor for a diagnosis.
Symptoms can appear within a matter of hours although it may take 2 – 3 days to materialise by which time it may be difficult to identify the source.
If I have suffered from food poisoning what should I do?
Visit a Doctor: The most important first step is to go and see your doctor or if you are away from home some other medical professional. If the doctor identifies food poisoning they may be able to take stool samples to confirm the cause.
If food poisoning is identified your doctor should notify the Environmental Health Department. If the food poisoning was caused at a restaurant they can then carry out an investigation to see what may have been the cause.
Log details of where and when you ate / purchased the food: You should also take details of where and when you purchased or ate the food you suspect may be the cause, keep a note of what else you have eaten, retain receipts, packaging and any of the food that you may still have.
Can I claim compensation for my injuries?
Yes but detailed medical evidence will be required. Your solicitor will instruct a medical expert to prepare a thorough report from an expert and it is essential that the expert identifies what caused your food poisoning. They will have access to your medical records and in particular any tests taken at the time which is why it is so important to see a doctor as soon as possible after you become ill.
If you believe you may have suffered food poisoning in a restaurant, café, whilst on holiday or even in your own home please contact one of our team of Personal Injury experts on 01279 755777 or email accidents@nockolds.co.uk. We will be happy to arrange an appointment to discuss your claim.
The majority of personal injury claims we manage at Nockolds are dealt with on a no win no fee basis or are covered by Insurance and therefore there is rarely any costs payable by the client. At the initial interview we will explore all funding options with you and ensure you are happy to proceed with your claim.
Ivan Moody 7th June 2011
Ivan Moody (profile) Tuesday 7th June 2011
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The recent BBC Panorama production highlights that abuse does occur but what do you do if you suspect somebody is being abused?
The first step should always be to report it. If the abuse is taking place in a care home inform their senior management. If this does not allay your concerns speak to a GP or nurse or other trusted medical professional.
What do you do if the abuse continues? It is always advisable to keep a diary of your concerns and if physical injuries are involved take photographs. This is the best evidence of injuries occurring and will be invaluable to your solicitor if it becomes necessary to consider legal proceedings. There are also a number of other bodies to whom you can report your concerns including Action on Elder Abuse, the Local Authority and the Police.
No amount of money can adequately compensate a person who has suffered from abuse but that does not mean you should not apply for compensation. The case of Lister v Hesley Hall Limited [2001] shows that an employer can be liable for his employee’s acts where the employee had committed sexual abuse of children under his care as a warden. The test is:
Is there a sufficiently close connection between the wrongful acts and the purposes for which the employee was employed?
The answer to this question will be judged on a case by case basis but where a person provides a service acting for others it is likely that they will be liable for the acts of their employees for providing that service.
The government were acutely aware of the problem of abuse especially in care homes and they therefore set up the Quality Care Commission which began operating in April 2009. Their powers and duties include:
Registering providers of health care and social care - to ensure they are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety.
Monitoring how providers comply with the standards - gathering information and visiting them when they think it is needed.
Using their enforcement powers - Such as fines and public warnings, if services drop below the essential standards. If they think that people’s rights or safety are at risk, they will act quickly – including closing a service down if necessary.
Acting to protect patients whose rights are restricted - acting to protect patients whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act.
The question you are undoubtedly asking is "What went wrong?"
The Care Quality Commission have published an apology on their website but this will come as little comfort to those who have suffered at the hands of the abusers.
At Nockolds we offer a free confidential no obligation initial consultation for all those who have suffered from abuse or have family who have suffered from abuse. We appreciate this can be a difficult issue to discuss and that you may prefer to do this in your own home. Nockolds’ staff are happy to travel to see their clients and will not insist that the client comes to them.
If you have been affected by abuse or simply want further information about this subject please contact Jennie Jones or Ivan Moody on 01279 755777 and they will be happy to speak to you in confidence.
Ivan Moody 1st June 2011
Ivan Moody (profile) Jennie Jones (profile) Wednesday 1st June 2011
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Pot Holes – too little too late?
The Government yesterday announced that they are providing an extra £100 million funding for Local Authorities in England to repair potholes, in addition to the extra £100 million funding provided in February. Councils must publish, on their websites, how the money has been spent by no later than 30 September 2011. The money will then be allocated to the 149 councils in England based on the number and condition of their roads.
English councils filled in over 200 million potholes last year at an average cost of £314 per fill a total cost of £628 million. It is, however estimated that there is a backlog of £9.5 billion in road repairs.
More money is needed to resolve this perennial problem and although we may have had a hard winter last year this cannot be the sole explanation for this huge backlog. As a direct consequence of England’s pothole filled roads Councils are paying over £50 million in compensation every year and the cost to motorists is over £320 million.
£100 Million may sound a lot of money especially when it is added to the existing budgets and the £100 million provided in February but it is only an average of £671,000 per authority. Surrey County Council (for example) will need to spend £400 million to repair their roads which is important as these are the roads over which Olympic Cyclists will be riding in just over a year’s time.
Hertfordshire County Council had 746 claims from motorists in the first 3 months of 2010 whilst Essex County Council had 734 claims in the same period. The majority of these claims were rejected leaving the motorist to consider whether to resort to the litigation process.
Whilst damage to your car can be a costly inconvenience it is the Personal Injury Claims to motorists and cyclists caused by potholes which is of greater concern. There are too many accidents caused by the state of the roads in England. We have helped Claimants who have suffered various injuries from scarring to broken bones but some cyclists have not been so lucky. On 24 March last year Captain Jonathan Allen was cycling along a road when he swerved to avoid a pothole and was hit by a lorry suffering multiple injuries and being pronounced dead at the scene. Whilst Local Authorities will no doubt welcome this extra money surely more funding need to be provided to avoid similar accidents.
If you would like further information on this issue or to discuss a claim, then please contact Ivan on imoody@nockolds.co.uk
Ivan Moody (profile) Thursday 24th March 2011
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