Material damage is the legal term used to describe the financial losses you have suffered because of a personal data breach. If an organisation failed to protect your personal data in line with data protection law, you could be eligible to claim compensation for losses such as lost earnings, therapy costs, relocation expenses or the cost of improving your home security. In some cases, you may also be able to claim compensation for non-material damage, which refers to the emotional distress or psychological harm caused by the breach.
Making a data breach claim can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already dealing with the impact the breach has had on your personal and financial wellbeing. However, support is available. To make a successful claim, you may need evidence showing that the personal data breach occurred, that your personal data was involved and that you suffered financial loss or mental harm as a result. You generally have up to 6 years to begin a claim.
A solicitor from our panel at Data Breach Claims could help eligible claimants calculate and evidence their material losses linked to the personal data breach. They could also negotiate with the organisation responsible to help secure a settlement that fully reflects the impact the breach has had both financially and emotionally.
If you would like to learn more about making a claim for material damage, you can speak to one of our advisors today. They understand that data breach claims can be complex, so they can provide clear and straightforward guidance tailored to your circumstances.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is Classed As Material Damage?
- How Does Material Damage Differ To Non-Material Damage?
- How Can I Prove That My Financial Losses Were Caused By A Data Breach?
- Can I Claim For Just Material Damages After A Data Breach?
- How Can Data Breach Claims’s Panel Of Solicitors Help Me To Claim For Material Damages?
- Can I Claim For Material Damage On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Learn More
What Is Classed As Material Damage?
Material damage in a personal data breach claim refers to the financial impact the breach has had on you. This could include lost earnings, therapy costs, relocation expenses or home security costs if the breach affected your safety or wellbeing.
To claim for material damage, you must show that an organisation’s failure to protect your personal data caused you financial harm.
In essence, we must show that an organisation failed to adhere to the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation, and this resulted in your data being compromised.
If a personal data breach has affected you financially or emotionally, our advisors are here to help you understand your options and whether you could be eligible to claim compensation.
How Does Material Damage Differ To Non-Material Damage?
Material damage and non-material damage are the two types of harm that could be awarded compensation following a personal data breach. While material damage relates to the financial impact the breach has had on you, non-material damage relates to the psychological harm you have experienced because of it.
Non-material damage could include mental harm such as stress, anxiety, depression or emotional distress caused by the personal data breach. In some cases, the emotional impact of having personal information exposed can continue long after the breach itself has occurred.
Contact our team today to learn more about how a solicitor from our panel could help you claim compensation after a personal data breach.
How Can I Prove That My Financial Losses Were Caused By A Data Breach?
To prove that your financial losses were caused by a data breach, you will need evidence demonstrating these financial losses.
Evidence that could support your claim includes:
- Bank statements showing financial losses or expenses
- Payslips proving lost earnings
- Invoices or receipts for therapy, relocation or home security costs
- A notification letter or email confirming the personal data breach
- Correspondence with the organisation responsible
- Findings from an Information Commissioner’s Office investigation, where applicable
Keeping records of how the breach affected you financially could help strengthen your claim.
Contact our advisory team today to learn more about what evidence could support your personal data breach claim. If you are eligible to seek compensation with Data Breach Claims, a solicitor from our panel will collect evidence on your behalf.
Can I Claim For Just Material Damages After A Data Breach?
Yes, you could seek compensation for material damage alone if a personal data breach caused you financial losses. You do not need to suffer psychological harm to pursue a claim for material damage. For example, you may be able to recover lost earnings, relocation expenses or home security costs.
To succeed, you will usually need evidence showing that the personal data breach involved your personal data and directly caused your financial losses. This could include bank statements, invoices, payslips or correspondence from the organisation responsible.
Get in touch with our advisors to learn more about whether you could seek compensation for material damage after a personal data breach.
How Can Data Breach Claims’s Panel Of Solicitors Help Me To Claim For Material Damages?
Data Breach Claims’s panel of solicitors could help eligible claimants pursue compensation for their material damage. Our panel will ensure that all of your provable material losses are considered by using their years of experience assessing financial evidence such as payslips, invoices, receipts and relocation or therapy costs linked to personal data breaches.
A solicitor from our panel could help you by:
- Assessing whether you may have a valid personal data breach claim
- Explaining what financial losses could be included as material damage
- Helping gather evidence such as bank statements, invoices and payslips
- Calculating how the breach has affected you financially
- Building a strong case for the compensation you could be owed
- Supporting you throughout the claims process with clear and straightforward advice
Contact our advisory team today to find out whether you could claim compensation for the financial impact a personal data breach has had on your life. If your claim is eligible, a solicitor from our panel could help you build a strong case and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Can I Claim For Material Damage On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you could claim for material damage on a No Win No Fee basis by working with our panel of solicitors here at Data Breach Claims.
What this means is that:
- You wouldn’t pay any upfront solicitor fees
- You wouldn’t pay ongoing fees while your claim progresses
- You wouldn’t pay your solicitor’s service fees if your claim was unsuccessful
If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will deduct a success fee from your compensation. This percentage will be agreed before your claim begins and is capped in line with legislation.
Contact Data Breach Claims
Get in touch with our advisory team today to learn if you’d be eligible to claim for material damage after a personal data breach. You can reach our advisors by:
- Calling us on 020 8050 6279
- Contacting us online
- Speaking to an advisor through our live chat
Learn More
Read some more of our legal glossary pages about:
- What is a data processor?
- What is a data controller?
- What is a Conditional Fee Agreement?
Helpful External Resources
- Government information on data protection
- Guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office about making claiming compensation
- Learn about the categories of personal data
Thank you for reading our guide on material damage today.