Home / Data Breach Claims / Local Authority Breaches

Local Authority Data Breach Claims

Local Authorities hold a large and wide-ranging set of data on residents, past and present, within the authority. They have a responsibility to keep that data secure and prevent it falling into the wrong hands, but unfortunately breaches do happen.

Data held by Local Authorities can relate to highly sensitive areas such as financial information, social services records, adoption procedures and processes. This means any breach of data protection regulations by a Local Authority can have very serious consequences for those whose data is exposed.

Anyone whose personal information has been compromised in a Local Authority data breach may have grounds to claim compensation.

At Hayes Connor we can help you to recover compensation if you have been affected by a personal data breach by a Local Authority. With a strong track record of success for our clients, we know exactly what it takes to make a successful Local Authority data breach compensation claim.

Examples of the types of Local Authority data breaches we can assist with include:

  • Social services documentation being disclosed to members of the wider family, causing serious damage to family life and relationships
  • Adoption records being disclosed in an inappropriate way or without the proper authorisation, leading to a very significant impact upon family life
  • Identifiable information being shared by the Local Authority about people who have objected to planning applications when it was not appropriate to do so
  • Identifiable information being shared by the Local Authority about people who have complained about their neighbours

Given the highly sensitive, private and personal nature of the data often held by Local Authorities, we understand how distressing a breach can be and the huge impact it can have on those affected. In most cases, these data breaches are caused by simple human errors, which can make living with the consequences even more upsetting.

The level of emotional distress caused by a Local Authority breach can be very substantial and, while compensation cannot undo the mistake, it can go some way towards making an amends. Making a claim can also be the best way to secure an apology and ensure the Local Authority improves its data protection practices to prevent similar errors in future.

Ultimately, if a Local Authority has failed to protect your personal data, you have a right to claim compensation.

If you believe you have grounds for a claim, we can assess this for you free of charge. Simply use our secure online claim form to let us know the details of your claim and we will get back to you shortly.

To speak to a member of our team about what to do if you believe your data has been exposed by a Local Authority data breach, please call now on 0151 363 5895.

Click here to read on.

How Local Authority data breach compensation claims work

Understanding if you are entitled to compensation

If your data has been exposed due to errors in the way a Local Authority handled that data, you will likely have grounds for a claim.

Local Authorities are legally required to have robust procedures in place for preventing, detecting, reporting, and investigating any personal data breaches. These procedures must ensure personal data is gathered, processed, stored and accessed securely, with appropriate safety precautions, such as limiting who has access to the data, using strong passwords and data encryption.

If a Local Authority has failed to adhere to data protect regulations resulting in your data being exposed, then our data breach solicitors can help you to pursue compensation.

What you can claim for

Financially losses from identity fraud

If your personal data is accessed illegally, it can allow someone to use your identity to take out credit, set up fraudulent bank accounts and commit other times of financial crimes. Cybercriminals can also potentially use your personal data as part of phishing attacks to trick you into giving away more of your personal data.

This can result in serious financial losses and you can claim for those losses.

Distress

Where sensitive data held by a Local Authorities is accessed by and/or shared with inappropriate people, it can have a significant impact on your mental and physical wellbeing, as well as potentially damaging important family relationships. We frequently hear from people who are unable to sleep, feel ill, unsettled or confused following a data breach.

This type of distress can be very serious and damages can be sought as a result.

The claims process

The first step is for our team to contact the Local Authority responsible for the breach on your behalf. In this initial step, we can use any findings of the ICO to assist us in our dealings with the Local Authority.

Our data breach solicitors will work to prove that a data breach has occurred and ensure the full consequences for you and your loved ones are clearly established. We can start to place a value on the damages available for your claim.

It is often the case that Local Authority data breach claims can be resolved without court proceedings through a negotiated settlement. However, if a settlement cannot be reached, court proceedings may be required to secure the compensation you are owed.

Funding for Local Authority data breach claims

We are able to act for clients on a no win, no fee basis, which means there is no upfront cost or financial risk to starting a Local Authority data breach claim.

How Hayes Connor can help with Local Authority data breaches

Hayes Connor is one of the largest teams of data breach claims specialists in the country. We can guide you through dealing with any situation where your data has been lost, stolen or otherwise exposed, helping you to secure fair compensation.

Our Local Authority data breach solicitors can help with:

  • Advising you on whether you have grounds for a claim
  • Making a claim on your behalf
  • Securing an apology
  • Seeking assurance that your data will be stored more securely in future
  • Having your data erased from the breached database (where appropriate)

We offer a free assessment of your case, so you can find out if you are likely to have grounds for a claim before deciding whether to take further action.

Dealing with a breach of your personal data can be very confusing and the thought of taking legal action might seem intimidating. Our team fully understand this and are committed to keeping the claims process as straightforward and stress-free as we can for you.

With many years of experience and an excellent track record of success for our clients, we can give you the best chance of securing fair compensation for a Local Authority data breach.

You can find out more about our expertise and how we handle data breach claims here.

To have your claim assessed for free, you can use our secure online claim form.

Or to speak to a member of our team, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0151 363 5895.

You can find out more about our expertise and how we handle claims here. To have your claim assessed for free, you can use our secure online claim form. Or to speak to a member of our team, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0330 041 5137.