Ross F. Mann | December 11, 2025 | Miscellaneous
*Disclaimer: Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers does not handle data breach cases. This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Data breaches are a fast‑growing threat. When sensitive information is exposed, victims may face financial losses, credit damage, and ongoing anxiety. If your information was compromised, you’re likely wondering how much compensation you can claim and what your rights are under Kentucky law.
This guide explains data breaches, the factors that contribute to a data breach case’s value, and steps you can take to strengthen your claim.
What Is a Data Breach?
A data breach occurs when unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive or confidential information, which may include:
- Social Security numbers
- Credit card or bank account information
- Medical records
- Driver’s license numbers
- Emails and passwords
- Employment or payroll records
Breaches may result from hacking, phishing, ransomware, system failures, or negligent security. Regardless of the cause, companies that collect consumer data have duties to safeguard it.
Types of Compensation Available in Data Breach Cases
How much you can claim for a data breach depends on the losses you can prove. Data breach damages generally fall into three categories.
1. Financial Losses
This category includes any money stolen or fraudulently charged as a result of the breach.
Examples may include:
- Unauthorized withdrawals or charges
- Costs of freezing or monitoring credit
- Fees to replace IDs or correct records
- Lost wages from time spent fixing identity theft
- Professional fees (e.g., accountants, fraud specialists)
Keep receipts, bank statements, credit‑monitoring invoices, and other documentation as evidence of these losses.
2. Emotional Distress
Data breaches often create significant anxiety and fear about long-term identity theft. Courts increasingly recognize emotional and psychological harm as valid damages, especially when the breach involves highly sensitive information.
3. Time and Inconvenience
Victims often spend dozens of hours disputing charges, replacing documents, and repairing credit. Many settlements compensate reasonable time spent even without receipts; others require supporting declarations or logs.
What Factors Determine the Value of a Data Breach Claim?
A few key factors typically influence the value of a data breach claim:
- Type of information exposed. SSNs, medical data, and driver’s license numbers typically increase risk and value.
- Proof of actual harm. Documented fraud, account takeovers, tax refund theft, credit score drops, or denial of credit can increase compensation.
- Size and posture of the case. Large, multi-state breaches often resolve through class-action lawsuits. Individual payouts in class cases can be smaller but may include credit monitoring and identity‑restoration services.
- Company negligence. Claims are stronger where evidence shows weak security (e.g., unpatched systems, failure to encrypt, ignoring known vulnerabilities) or delayed notice.
- Long‑term impact. Ongoing identity‑theft problems or repeated fraud over months/years generally justify a higher recovery.
Taken together, these factors help your attorney estimate potential recovery and choose the best path forward—an individual claim, a class action, or both where appropriate.
What Should I Do After a Data Breach?
You can strengthen any potential case you might file by taking a few practical steps right away:
- Act quickly. Place fraud alerts, consider freezing credit, and change passwords.
- Document everything. Save statements, receipts, emails from the company or settlement administrator, and a log of the hours you spend.
- Report identity theft. File an FTC Identity Theft Report and police report when appropriate.
- Follow notice instructions. If you receive a class notice, review eligibility, benefits, and filing deadlines right away.
Taken together, these actions help preserve evidence, reduce further harm, and support the value of your claim.
Contact Our Lexington Personal Injury Lawyers at Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If your personal information was exposed in a data breach, understanding your rights helps you take action quickly.
Because data breach cases can involve complex evidence, long-term harm, and negotiations with large corporations, working with an experienced Lexington personal injury attorney can significantly strengthen your claim. Call Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
We proudly serve Fayette County and the surrounding areas.
Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers – Lexington
501 Darby Creek Rd UNIT 48
Lexington, KY 40509
(859) 413-3900
