1. Who We Are

This website (dentalclaim.co.uk) is operated by Personal Injury Plus Solicitors Ltd. We are the “Data Controller” for the information you provide to us. This means we are responsible for deciding how your personal data is used and ensuring it is kept safe.

  • Firm Name: Personal Injury Plus Solicitors Ltd t/a Dentalclaim.co.uk

  • SRA Number: 225538

  • ICO Registration Number: Z8500843

  • Address: 14 Ludlow Road, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6AA

  • Data Protection Officer/Lead: Alex Bodza

2. The Data We Collect

We collect information to help us assess your dental negligence claim. This includes:

  • Identity Data: Your name, date of birth, and gender.

  • Contact Data: Your email address, phone number, and home address.

  • Health Data (Special Category Data): Details about your dental treatment, injuries (e.g., nerve damage, extraction issues), medical history, and records held by your dentist.

  • Technical Data: Your IP address, browser type, and how you use our website (collected via cookies/analytics).

  • Usage Data: Information you provide via our “Free Case Check” forms or interactive tools.

3. How We Use Your Data

We only use your data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we use it to:

  1. Assess Your Claim: To determine if you have a valid claim for dental negligence (Breach of Duty and Causation).

  2. Provide Legal Services: To represent you, draft legal documents, and negotiate settlements.

  3. Comply with Legal Obligations: To perform conflict checks and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks.

  4. Improve Our Service: To analyse website traffic and improve our user experience (using anonymous data where possible).

4. The Legal Basis for Processing

Under the UK GDPR, we rely on the following legal bases:

  • Contract: We need to process your data to assess your potential claim and enter into a client agreement (Retainer) with you.

  • Legal Obligation: We are required by law to verify your identity.

  • Legitimate Interests: To run our business effectively and defend our legal rights.

  • Special Category Data (Health Data): We process your dental/medical records under Article 9(2)(f) of the UK GDPR: “Processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.”

5. Who We Share Your Data With

We treat your data with strict confidentiality. However, to run your claim, we may need to share specific information with:

  • Medical Experts: Independent dental experts (e.g., maxillofacial surgeons, restorability experts) who write reports on your condition and prognosis.

  • Barristers (Counsel): If we need a second opinion or representation at a hearing.

  • The Other Side: The Defendant dentist, their insurer, or their Dental Defence Organisation (e.g., Dental Protection, DDU).

  • Service Providers: Trusted IT support, case management system providers, and secure document transfer services.

  • The Court: If proceedings are issued (though our goal is pre-action settlement).

We never sell your data to third-party marketing companies.

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for.

  • If you become a client: We typically keep your file for 6 years after the matter is concluded (settled or closed).

  • If you do not become a client: We generally delete enquiry data after 3 months unless you ask us to keep it on file.

7. International Transfers

We do not typically transfer your personal data outside the UK. If we use a service provider (like a cloud server) based outside the UK, we ensure they have appropriate safeguards in place (such as UK International Data Transfer Agreements).

8. Cookies and Analytics

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users. This helps us provide you with a good experience and allows us to improve our site.

  • Analytics: We use tools (like Google Analytics) to understand how visitors find us.

  • Marketing: We may use tracking pixels to show you relevant information about our services on other platforms (retargeting).

9. Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have rights including:

  • Right of Access: You can ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you (a Subject Access Request).

  • Right to Rectification: You can ask us to correct incorrect data.

  • Right to Erasure: You can ask us to delete your data (though we may need to keep it for legal reasons, i.e., to defend a claim).

  • Right to Object: You can object to us processing your data for marketing.

To exercise any of these rights, please email us at alexbodza@dentalclaim.co.uk

10. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, please contact us first so we can resolve it. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) (www.ico.org.uk).