In September 2024, it was reported that Sefton Council suffered a data breach involving the personal information of taxi drivers registered in the area.
A breach of this nature can cause considerable stress and worry, and below, you can learn all about your legal rights after the Sefton Council data breach, compensation claims for damage caused, and whether or not you could be eligible.
To check if you’re eligible to make a Sefton Council data breach claim, you can contact us using the details below:
- Call on 0800 073 8804 to chat with an adviser today.
- Fill in our online claims form to receive a response whenever is best for you.
- Chat with one of our advisers via our live chat pop-up box for a reply immediately.
About The Sefton Council Data Breach (2024)
Sefton Council discovered a data breach in September 2024.
The data breach is believed to have occurred when Sefton Council launched a new taxi licensing computer system, with the idea behind it that new and existing taxi drivers could apply online. This went live in April, and the breach was discovered five months later.
Sefton Council has since removed the information, but it has not yet been confirmed just how long this data was publically visible.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseyside-taxis-drivers-left-totally-29887627
What Data Was Affected?
The Sefton Council data breach is said to affect both new and existing taxi drivers registered and licensed by Sefton Council.
A taxi driver interviewed by the Liverpool Echo was said to have found his name and address on the website. He was also quoted as saying there was no telling how long their personal information was up on the site.
What Should I Do If I Was Affected By The Sefton Council Data Breach?
If you’ve been impacted by the Sefton Council data breach, we recommend you seek legal advice, and we can offer that to you for free.
Sefton Council should have informed you of the breach. This comes in the form of a data breach notification letter. It can be a physical letter or an email.
In this letter, it should state whether or not you were impacted and what personal information was affected.
If you haven’t received a letter, you can still get in touch with us to explain your situation and to get advice on your options. You can call us today using the number at the top of this page.
What Are The Eligibility Criteria To Make A Sefton Council Data Breach Claim?
In order to make a successful data breach claim, it’s necessary to meet the relevant criteria. These are:
- First, a council’s positive wrongful conduct would need to cause the data breach. For example, they may have neglected to put cybersecurity measures in place, which left personal information vulnerable to a cyberattack.
- Secondly, the data breach must have involved your personal information.
- And thirdly, you would have suffered financial loss or psychological harm as a result.
If you’d like to check if you’re eligible to make a Sefton Council data breach compensation claim, please get in touch.
How Is Compensation Calculated In Data Breach Compensation Claims?
Data breach compensation can consist of two types of damage (non-material and material damage). This means you can claim compensation for either financial loss or psychological distress, or both.
Material damage compensates for any financial impact the data breach causes. For example, you could have suffered a credit card data breach and have money stolen from your bank account by a criminal. In this case, material damages could compensate you for this financial loss.
Moreover, this scenario could result in a long-term financial impact on your life too.
Non-material damage award compensation for the psychological impact the data breach has had on you. For example, you may suffer short-term effects such as stress after a data breach.
Moreover, you could suffer long-term psychological issues. For example, you may suffer from prolonged stress or anxiety.
Do I Need Evidence For A Sefton Council Data Breach Compensation Claim?
You can prove material damage through financial documents like bank statements or credit scores.
You can prove non-material damage by a medical assessment as part of the claims process. An independent medical professional would assess your injuries and create a report. The report can be used to prove:
- Your psychological injuries were caused or worsened by the data breach.
- The severity of your injuries.
A solicitor could also use the report to help them value your injuries.
If you’d like to receive more information about material and non-material damages, you can have a chat with one of our advisers. They’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and learn more about your situation.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Data Breach Claim For A Sefton Council Data Breach?
A No Win No Fee agreement, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement, is a contract between you and your lawyer. There’s a range of benefits to this type of agreement. This contract states that you won’t have to pay the fees your solicitor has accrued if your case fails.
If your case loses, you don’t pay any of your lawyer’s fees. If your case wins, your layer will deduct a legally capped percentage from the compensation. However, you will still receive the majority of the awarded compensation.
Additionally, you wouldn’t need to pay any upfront solicitor fees or ongoing ones during the claim.
Our solicitors are happy to work on a No Win No Fee basis with claimants. You can get in touch with our friendly team of advisers today to discuss the benefits of this agreement and discuss more about your situation.
If you have a valid claim, they can connect you with one of our lawyers to discuss making a No Win No Fee agreement.
Check If You’re Eligible To Make A Sefton Council Data Breach Claim
Our team of advisers is available all day and night to offer you expert legal advice about your situation.
You can get in touch with our advisers via any of the methods below.
- Telephone 0800 073 8804 to chat with an adviser today.
- Our live chat pop-up box is where you can receive an instant response.
- Our online claims form is where you can ask us to contact you at a time suited to you.
Thank you for reading our guide to the Sefton Council data breach, compensation claims and what to do.
