When you start a new job at a company, you may have no hesitation when providing them with your address, banking information, and even your social security number for tax purposes. However, the company may not take the necessary steps to safeguard this information. As a result, a data breach can steal your information, leaving you vulnerable to identity theft. Luckily, you may be able to hold your employer liable for damages. Keep reading to learn about their responsibility and discover how a Los Angeles, California data breach lawyer can assist you through this process.
Is It My Employer’s Responsibility to Protect My Data?
When you provide a company with your data, regardless of who they are, there is an expectation of privacy. If your employer’s servers are hacked and your information is accessed, your employer is responsible for the breach.
In some instances, data breaches can be an accident. If an employee accidentally dispenses information, it may not be malicious. However, the worker is an entity of the company, so the company can still be held liable.
Similarly, if the security measures in place are weak and a hacker can circumvent them, the employer would be liable as they must take the necessary steps to provide adequate security to protect the personal data of their employees.
What Can I Do if My Employer Is the Reason My Data Was Breached?
In most instances, you can hold your employer responsible if a data breach occurs and your sensitive information is compromised.
Generally, this can occur in one of two ways. The first is suing on the grounds of negligence. When you provide sensitive information to a company, whether a consumer or employee, that entity has a responsibility to take the necessary steps to protect and shield that information through sufficient security measures. If they do not, you may suffer harm and damage as a result.
The other way you can hold the company liable is over a breach of contract, such as if your employer has written that they will take the necessary steps to protect your data. As such, if a data breach happens, causing your information to be impacted, they have violated the contract.
Even if there is no noticeable impact, this information is now in the hands of a criminal. As such, it can be sold for years before it is used. As such, you can file a lawsuit, as identity theft can occur years into the future because of the company’s failure to secure your data.
If you discover that your information was stolen from your current or former employer, you may not know how to proceed. Luckily, the team at LA Legal Solutions is here to help. Our dedicated firm understands how unnerving it can be to know your identity has been compromised. As such, we will do everything possible to help you protect yourself while holding the negligent entity responsible. Contact us today to learn how we will assist you.
