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St Mary’s University Twickenham Data Breach Compensation Claims Guide – How Much Compensation Can I Claim? – Amounts For St Mary’s University Twickenham Data Breach

Claims For Data Breaches By St Mary’s University Twickenham

In this article, we are going to explain the situations in which data breach claims against St Mary’s University Twickenham might be justified. We’ll explain what types of damage you could claim and how much compensation might be payable.

Due to the number of staff and students at any given university, it would be impossible to operate if personal details weren’t recorded and stored. The main problem in holding personal and sensitive information is that it can cause problems for individuals if it is leaked. That could involve criminal activity if the data is exposed in a cybersecurity breach or embarrassment and stress if information finds its way to other students or staff.

St Mary's University Twickenham data breach claims guide

St Mary’s University Twickenham data breach claims guide

In recent years, a lot of good work has been done in relation to data protection laws. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and The Data Protection Act 2018 have massively strengthened existing laws.

Now, individuals (data subjects) have gained more control over how and when personal information is used. Moreover, organisations (data controllers) now need a lawful reason to process personal data and must implement procedures and protocols to try and keep it safe.

These new laws are governed by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). They are able to fine any organisation found to have broken data laws. Also, if you suffer financial damage or harm to your mental health because of a data breach, you might be entitled to seek compensation.

How We Can Help

Legal Expert is here to help you if you want to talk to us about claiming. We offer a no-obligation telephone consultation as well as free legal advice. Should your claim appear strong enough, we could pass it to one of our data breach solicitors. If they agree to represent you, their work will be funded by a No Win No Fee agreement, something we’ll explain more about below.

Please get in touch today on 0800 073 8804 to find out more about making a claim. Otherwise, continue reading to find more about claiming for a breach of personal data.

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A Guide To Data Breach Claims Against St Mary’s University Twickenham

A lot of us have become blind to the GDPR as we interact with it almost daily. If you visit a website, you’ll probably need to click a pop-up box or two and if you register with a GP, you’ll probably need to tick boxes to say who can see your data.

Although these interactions might seem annoying, they are important. That’s because the things you’re being asked to tick or click are your chance to control what happens with your personal information. If you don’t pay attention, your data might be used in ways that you’re not happy with.

According to the rules of the GDPR, all data controllers need to implement measures to secure personal data. They may also need to tell you why it’s being used and ask for your permission. If these rules aren’t adhered to, the data controller might face an investigation by the ICO. That can be problematic because it could mean a hefty financial penalty if found guilty. However, that won’t automatically lead to compensation for you.

If you are harmed by a data breach, the only way you’ll be compensated is if you decide to take action yourself. If that is what you’d like to do, you will need to claim within the time limits. For most claims, there is a 6-year limitation period. However, please bear in mind that some claims have a 1-year limit if they relate to breaches of your human rights.

We are here to help if you can show that you’ve been impacted by a data breach by St Mary’s University Twickenham (or any other educational establishment). When you have finished reading, why not get in touch and let us assess your options with you? Our team offer free legal advice on claiming whether you proceed or not.

What Is Data Protection Breach At St Mary’s University?

Within the pages of the GDPR, a personal data breach is listed as a security problem that leads to personally identifiable information being destroyed, altered, lost, disclosed or accessed in a way that the data subject has not agreed to.

The GDPR doesn’t just cover data stored on computer systems though. It also covers paper and other physical documentation. Essentially, any personal information that is recorded needs to be kept secure. Therefore, a data breach could be something as simple as a member of admin staff writing your name and new telephone number on a post-it note and leaving it where it can be read by other students or staff.

In terms of claiming for a personal data breach, you will need to show that:

  1. A breach of data protection has taken place.
  2. You were harmed in some way (financially, psychologically—distress, anxiety, depression etc.) as a direct result.

We will explain what evidence can be used to prove these criteria later on.

Personal data that is covered by the GDPR is any information that could be used to help identify you. Direct information could include your name, home address, email account, student number or staff number. Data that could help to identify you indirectly includes information about some protected characteristics like gender, disability, marriage, sexual orientation or race.

For more information on why you might be eligible to seek compensation following a data breach, please call a member of our team today.

UK GDPR Regulations For Universities

Compliance with a number of principles is a requirement for data controllers under the GDPR. For instance, when processing personal information, the data controller will need to comply with the following:

  • Only collect personal information that is strictly necessary from data subjects.
  • Using legal data processing methods and ensuring they are transparent and fair.
  • Explaining to the data subject the reason that their data is required.
  • Making sure that any processed personal data remains up to date.
  • Keeping all processed data secure and confidential.
  • Never keeping information for any longer than necessary.

When data breaches are spotted, the organisation must conduct an investigation. As well as reporting this to the ICO, the data controller has a duty to inform any data subject who might be at risk.

Has This University Been Affected By A Data Breach?

According to the ICO’s register, there have been no data breaches at St Mary’s University Twickenham at the time of writing. Therefore, we shall now look at a case where the ICO fined the University of Greenwich £120,000 for a serious breach.

It occurred following a training event in 2004 which had used a temporary website to help with the event. After the course was over, the website was left in place and not secured or password protected.

Much later on in 2013, the site was breached and accessed in 2016 by multiple attackers. Because the website contained personal information of about 19,500 students and staff, and because the university did not have the necessary controls in place to prevent such a breach, the ICO decided to issue a large fine.

University Data Protection Breach Statistics

Although this guide is about data breach claims against St Mary’s University Twickenham, we are now going to look at a 2019 study that is based on responses from 88 different universities. Here are some of the headline figures:

  • Staggeringly, over half of the universities (54%) had made contact with the ICO about data breaches within the preceding 12 months.
  • Budgets for training staff on data awareness averaged out at only £7,529 per year.
  • Proactive training of students only takes place at around 51% of the universities.
  • Although 44% of universities said they conducted penetration tests annually, 27% admitted to never having one.
  • Almost half of all staff (46%) hadn’t been given any security training in the past year.

Report source: https://www.redscan.com/media/The-state-of-cyber-security-across-UK-universities-Redscan-report.pdf

Data protection is not just important to protect university students and staff. There is also a lot of sensitive information used during research projects that should be kept secure as well.

If you’ve been impacted by a university data breach and would like some free legal advice on your situation, get in touch with us on the number at the top of this page.

Claims For Breaches In Online Cybersecurity

More and more data breaches relate to cybersecurity issues these days. You have probably read about them in the press or online. Attackers use various techniques to access personal data including phishing emails, spyware, keyloggers, viruses, hacking and malware.

So, what can be done to prevent these attacks? Well, we are not security experts but some steps that could help include:

  • Training staff, contractors and students on data security techniques.
  • Encrypting hard drives or portable devices so they can’t be accessed if stolen.
  • Insisting that devices on the university’s network are patched with the latest security updates.
  • Regularly reviewing ICT and data protection policies.
  • Hiring a penetration testing firm to try and identify security flaws before criminals do.

As you might imagine, there is a cost associated with these changes that might be off-putting. However, spending money upfront could prevent the university from having to pay a large financial penalty to the ICO. It could also stop students or staff from having to deal with the consequences of a data protection breach.

What Types Of Compensation Could Your Case Be Awarded?

Data breach claims aren’t the easiest thing in the world to get right. That’s because not only will you need to look at any harm or suffering that has already happened, but you will also need to look at what might occur in the future. The reason for that is that you are only able to make a single claim. After it has been settled, you won’t be able to request further compensation later on.

The first part of your claim is likely to be for material damages. This is the part that covers any financial losses, expenses or costs incurred as a result of the breach. Calculating how much has been lost already is quite straightforward. However, you might need to put a value on future losses too. For instance, you might continue to lose money if criminals are using your details until you manage to move all of your accounts.

Next up are non-material damages. This is compensation that could be awarded for injuries associated with the data breach. Again, you’ll begin by looking at injuries that have already been diagnosed. Following that, a medical assessment will be used to identify if any symptoms might affect you in the future. For example, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may have an effect on your ability to work down the line.

Hopefully, you can now see why we would advise taking on legal support for data breach claims. If your case is accepted by one of our data breach solicitors, they will review your claim thoroughly with you to ascertain exactly how you have suffered. This process will hopefully mean your claim will be for the correct amount.

Why not call an advisor today and let us assess what you could be compensated for?

Calculate Data Breach Compensation Claims Against St Mary’s University

Now that we have shown the circumstances in which data breach claims against St Mary’s University Twickenham are justified, we’ll move on to potential compensation amounts.

As you might imagine, claims differ from case to case. Therefore, the information we supply here should be used for guidance only at this point. When you call and discuss your case with us, we should be able to offer a more personalised claim estimate.

In an important legal case (Vidal-Hall and others v Google Inc [2015], Court of Appeal), two important points of law were clarified. The court said that:

  • It is possible to seek compensation for the mental impact caused by a data breach even if you have not lost any money.
  • Compensation amounts for the likes of distress, anxiety and depression should be paid at levels consistent with personal injury claims.

Our compensation table below shows data from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for injuries relevant to data breaches. The JCG is referred to by lawyers, insurers and courts when settling claims.

Edit
Type of Injury Severity Level Compensation (range) Additional Details
Psychiatric Injuries The main factors used to assess this type of claim: 1) Ability to cope (work, life, education); 2) Problems with relationships; 3) Any vulnerability in the future; 4) Whether treatment will help; 5) Prognosis
Severe £51,460 to £108,620 The claimant will receive a very poor prognosis because of serious problems in all factors.
Moderately Severe £17,900 to £51,460 The claimant will receive a more optimistic prognosis but they will still have significant issues with all factors.
Less Severe Up to £5,500 Symptoms of a mild nature that resolve completely within a short period of time.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Severe £56,180 to £94,470 Permanent symptoms that stop a return to pre-trauma levels of function and there will be no chance of working.
Moderately Severe £21,730 to £56,180 Similar levels of symtpoms as above but the claimant should improve with professional help.

Because compensation levels are determined by the level of your injuries, you will need to have a medical assessment as part of your claim. When you work with Legal Expert, this will usually be a local appointment. During your meeting, an independent specialist will carry out the assessment. They may refer to medical records and ask you questions about the impact of your injuries.

Once the meeting comes to an end, the specialist will write a report. This will explain what injuries have already been diagnosed and whether any symptoms will remain in the longer term. The report will then be sent on to your data breach lawyer who’ll use it to evidence your case and determine the claim’s value.

Further Information On The Data Breach Claims Process

We are quickly going to run through the claims process again in this section. Before making data breach claims against St Mary’s University Twickenham, the first thing to do is complain to them directly. After you have received a response, you should escalate the complaint if you don’t agree with the findings. Then, when it has been 3-months since you last had contact, you could decide to start legal proceedings.

If you contact us and your claim is accepted, we’ll appoint a data breach lawyer to your case. They will work closely with you during the claims process, and they will:

  • Assess the impact of the data breach in full with you.
  • Book you in for a local medical assessment.
  • Collate evidence and compile your claim before presenting it to the defendant.
  • Communicate with the defendant on your behalf.
  • Give you regular case updates.
  • Try to achieve the highest level of compensation possible in your case.

For more information on how we could help you claim, please call Legal Expert today. Our advice is free whether you go on to claim or not.

No Win No Fee Claims For Breaches In Data Protection At St Mary’s University

The fear of paying for a solicitor and then losing a claim is one reason why people delay seeking compensation. For that reason, we offer a No Win No Fee service for any claim accepted by our data breach solicitors. By doing so, we can give you access to our experienced team with reduced financial risks. In turn, that’ll make your claim less stressful.

At the start of your claim, a solicitor will run through the merits of your case with you. If they decide that your claim is suitable, you will be given a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA)—the formal title for a No Win No Fee agreement. This contract explains what your solicitor will need to achieve before they get paid for their work. Additionally, the CFA explains that:

  • Funds don’t need to be paid upfront which means the claim can begin quickly.
  • There are no solicitor’s fees payable while your claim is progressing.
  • In the event that your claim is lost, you won’t be liable for your solicitor’s fees at all.

Should your solicitor win your case for you, they will deduct a small success fee from your compensation. This is listed in the CFA as a percentage of your award. The success fee is used to cover your solicitor’s work. Remember, you only pay this if you are paid compensation and, by law, success fees are capped.

Please get in touch on the number above if you would like to check your eligibility to claim.

Speaking To Data Breach Claim Experts

We have almost reached the conclusion of this article about data breach claims by St Mary’s University Twickenham. We’d be delighted to assess your case for you if you are considering claiming. To get in touch with our team, you can:

  • Call for free on 0800 073 8804 and speak with an advisor.
  • Ask for a call back when you complete our online enquiry form.
  • Use the live chat to explain what has happened to an online advisor.
  • Email info@legalexpert.co.uk with details of your university data breach claim.

To keep things as straightforward as possible, our team won’t ask confusing or difficult questions. They’ll always be honest about the likelihood of winning your claim too.

We’ll begin by reviewing your case in a telephone consultation. You’ll be given free legal advice about claiming during the call. And we could connect you to one of our data breach solicitors if it appears strong enough. If they take your claim on, they will work for you on a No Win No Fee basis.

Related Information On Claims

Thank you for reading this article about data breach claims against St Mary’s University Twickenham. This is our final section so we have listed some resources below that could help you during your claim. Should you require anything further, please feel free to call us on the number above.

Objecting To Data Use – Details on how to object to your data being processed.

So that we can demonstrate the other types of claims we can support, you will find some more of our articles below:

Workplace Harassment – Information on when an employment law solicitor could help you start a claim.

Hit By A Falling Object – Free advice on making a claim if you are hit from above by a falling object.

NHS Negligence – Details on why you could claim if you are harmed by NHS negligence.

Other Useful Compensation Guides

Thank you for reading our guide to data breach claims against St Mary’s University Twickenham.

Guide by Hambridge

Edited by Billing

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    • Patrick Mallon

      Patrick is a Grade A solicitor having qualified in 2005. He's an an expert in accident at work and public liability claims and is currently our head of the EL/PL department. Get in touch today for free to see how we can help you.

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