A data breach can happen at any time and any place. Not only is it a complete invasion of privacy, but it can leave you feeling vulnerable and scared, especially if your financial data has been exposed to malicious individuals who are interested in stealing your credit card. Nowadays, data is actually more valuable than oil. That’s why it is so important that you keep your data as safe as possible. Unfortunately, there are third parties you may work with in the future that could inadvertently expose your data or share it without your consent. If you are the victim of a data breach, you could receive compensation if you make a data breach claim This is where the specialists at Gowing Law Solicitors can help.
Gowing Law’s expert data breach claims specialists are here to provide you with expert advice and consultations. We can support you throughout this difficult time and make sure you get the compensation you deserve for your damages. Find out more by 0800 041 8350 or by clicking the button below to visit our data breach claims website:
What do I need to know about experiencing a Data Breach?
A data breach occurs when you have had your personal/sensitive information exposed or sent to another party that does not have the right to see it. Sometimes this may have been by mistake, but other times it may have been done entirely on purpose. A data breach can also occur if data has been destroyed or sent over social media if you have not given permission. These types of breaches can leave you feeling stressed, embarrassed or worried, especially if you are frightened about criminals accessing your financial data. Any third-party that you work with has a responsibility to you, in other words they owe you a “duty of care” to ensure that your data is always kept secure.
No matter what type of data they are working with, they must take every security measure possible to ensure your data is handled responsibly. This includes having strong passwords and ensuring it is only kept between the relevant parties.
There are many types of data that you may want to between you and a third party may include:
- Financial data
- Tax information
- Personal information
- Bank details
- Important passwords/security details
- Location details
- Investment information
These are only a few examples of the types of data you could want to keep private. If any of these data categories are breached. If you do end becoming the victim of this type of breach, it’s important that you understand that you are not alone. There are legal specialists who can help you get the compensation you deserve for your damages. It’s important that you reach out to them as quickly as possible to begin your Data Breach Claim.
Take a look at the case study below to get a better idea about how data breaches and these types of claims work.
How could I have experienced a data breach?
Just like any other type of legal claim, the circumstances of your breach may affect the amount of compensation that you are owed. That’s why it’s essential that you understand how you could be eligible and how it could affect you in the long-run.
Obviously, some data breaches are going to be bigger than others. In some cases, you may think that the breach was only small and simply isn’t worth chasing. However, in other cases you may have experienced a breach that lead to extreme financial losses and emotional damages. For instance, if your bank sent your credit card details to an incorrect address, there is a chance that the person who receives the information could use the money in your bank account. Another example could be that a journalist received personal information about you that was not there’s to disclose. Not only is your safety compromised, but you may feel embarrassed or even a little ashamed about the type of data that was exposed.
Take a look at the infographic below to get a better idea about what type of data breaches could happen:
As you can see, there are several ways that you could have your data breached. However, there are additional ways that it could be breached that could affect both you and your family. For instance, if you have adopted a child and have had your social services documents breached, this could put you and your child at risk as it may reveal their previous family and also any locations and addresses. This information is supposed to be confidential, therefore you have every right to make a compensation claim. The chart below contains more information on how much compensation you could be owed for different types of data breaches:
What could happen if you suffer from a data breach?
When it comes to any type of claim, you are going to have experienced damages that have affected your general livelihood. Although the effects of a data breach don’t tend to occur until around 3-6 months after the breach has occurred, this can cause a lot of emotional and financial trauma.
Your information was confidential. That means that no one else other than the company you work with should have access to it. If the data was breached, this may make you feel as if you cannot trust anyone. You may feel paranoid or anxious about future investments or business opportunities. There is such a thing as “loss of opportunity.” The impact of the breach may have been so big that you simply feel like you cannot get involved in such business deals in the future. This is a legitimate feeling that you may need the help of a mental health expert to overcome. Overall, this could cause even more financial damages as you will need to pay your medical expenses.
In terms of financial damages, not only could you lose your savings due to credit card fraud, there may be different damages in terms of fees or payments for extra security in the future. In some cases, a data breach can severely impact an individual’s life. That’s why it’s important for you to get the compensation that you deserve by making a data breach claim.
How long will it take to make a Data Breach Claim?
This depends on the extent of the data breach and how badly your damages have been. You will have three years from the time of the breach to make a claim. That’s why it’s essential that you get in contact as quickly as possible. If you are happy to work with our team of specialists, it will take one day to establish whether or not you have a claim. From there, your solicitor will speak to you. This will include information about a timeline and how long it will take to get the compensation you deserve. Be patient a there may be delays due to the UK court backlog and current pandemic.
Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your Data Breach Claim
Here at Gowing Law, we understand that making a Data Breach Claim can be complicated when you are doing it on your own. That’s why we want to help you as much as possible to get the compensation that you deserve. We can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, we can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top and will never need to pay any hidden fees. Instead, you will only need to pay our solicitors if we win your case.
Contact our solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our specialists will then be in touch to answer any additional questions you may have.
Want to read more about Data Breach Claims?
If you’re interested in learning more about Data Breaches and their impact on claimants, you should visit our blog for more information. We update it every week with brand new content about different legal claims, seasonal events and the occasional competition/giveaway. We also write about our law firm’s latest updates. Our blog writers are always open to suggestions, so if you would like to see a specific topic written in a blog, feel free to send it to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We would be more than happy to include it.
Gowing Law looks forward to seeing you in our next blog!
