Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers | November 29, 2025 | Ohio Law

Businesses today collect and store as much information as possible about their customers. This includes your personal information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, and other sensitive identifying information. Although businesses have a duty to protect your information, breaches still happen.

You may not even be aware that your personal information has been compromised until the company announces a breach has occurred. If you are the victim of one of these breaches, it could impact you financially and require significant time and effort to reverse the damage. You may be entitled to seek compensation for your damages after a data breach.

However, proving your damages and putting a value on them can be challenging. An experienced lawyer can help you put a proper value on your claim. Keep reading below to learn how much you might be able to claim after a data breach in Ohio.

What Should I Do After a Data Breach?

If your information has been exposed in a data breach, it is important to act quickly. There are some things you can do to protect yourself from additional damage. 

First, you should put a credit freeze on your account with the major credit bureaus. You should also change account passwords to prevent unauthorized access to your accounts.

Next, sign up for credit monitoring. This type of service will notify you if there are any inquiries or changes to your credit report. 

Then, talk to an experienced data breach lawyer about your situation. They can evaluate your case and help you pursue compensation from the party responsible for your losses.

Laws Affecting Your Data Breach Claim

Some states have comprehensive consumer data privacy laws, while others do not. Additionally, federal laws may also apply to your situation. 

Ohio has numerous laws in place to protect the data and information of its consumers. In Ohio, certain data, such as Social Security numbers, cannot be recorded unless special situations apply. Data breaches in Ohio must also be reported promptly. 

In addition to state law, the following federal laws may affect your data breach claim:

  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): This law applies to medical providers, and it dictates how they must protect the personal data within their possession.
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Credit reporting agencies must take reasonable steps to protect the data they collect.
  • Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (GLBA): Financial institutions store lots of personal information, and they are required to safeguard this information.

The laws governing data breaches can become complex. An experienced lawyer can help you understand the rules that apply to your case.

Calculating Damages in a Data Breach Claim

One tough part of a data breach claim is putting a value on your damages. You may be entitled to recover both economic damages and non-economic damages. The burden of proof is on the plaintiff in these cases. This means that you must present enough evidence to support your claim.

You may be able to recover compensation for:

  • The cost of credit monitoring
  • Lost wages or missed time from work
  • Credit damage
  • Loss of reputation
  • Mental anguish
  • Anxiety
  • Financial damage, such as accounts opened in your name

Data breaches can not only cause you harm now, but they also have the potential to cause you additional harm in the future. Courts have found that the risk of future harm is sufficient to warrant the award of damages in these cases.

Contact Our Columbus Personal Injury Lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

The specific amount of damages available in your data breach case will depend on the specific facts of your situation. An experienced Columbus personal injury lawyer from Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you evaluate your case. This will help determine an accurate value for your claim, enabling you to pursue all the compensation you’re entitled to.

We have convenient locations in Columbus, OH, and Charleston, WV.

Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Columbus, OH Office
20 E Broad St Suite 1000, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 587-8423

Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 39.96270905583009, -82.99956356191063

Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Charleston, WV Office
10 Hale St Suite 501, Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 720-1000

Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 38.348382927211865, -81.635109451865