Privacy Policy

Last updated: 26 May 2025

DamagesExpertWitness (https://damagesexpertwitness.co.uk) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data when you use our website and instruction services. We process personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Who We Are

DamagesExpertWitness operates damagesexpertwitness.co.uk as a referral service connecting legal teams with qualified damages expert witnesses. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. For data protection enquiries, contact us at contact@damagesexpertwitness.co.uk.

Data We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal data:

• Identity and contact data - name, firm name, job title, email address, telephone number, and postal address when you submit our contact or instruction form
• Case information - details you provide about your matter, practice area, heads of loss, forum, and urgency (may include information about clients where you disclose it in the instruction)
• Technical data - IP address, browser type, device information, and cookies where you consent to analytics
• Communications - correspondence by email or through our contact form

How We Use Your Data

We use personal data to:

• Respond to instruction requests and match you with suitable experts
• Communicate about your enquiry and referral
• Improve our website and services (where analytics consent is given)
• Comply with legal obligations and defend legal claims
• Maintain records for business administration and quality assurance

Lawful bases: processing is based on (a) performance of steps at your request prior to a contract (responding to enquiries); (b) our legitimate interests in operating a referral service and improving the website, balanced against your rights; and (c) consent where required for non-essential cookies and marketing communications.

Sharing Your Data

We may share your contact and case details with expert witnesses on our panel solely for the purpose of responding to your instruction request. We use secure form processing (Google Sheets and/or webhook delivery) to transmit contact form submissions. We do not sell personal data to third parties.

We may disclose data where required by law, court order, or regulatory authority, or to professional advisers bound by confidentiality.

International Transfers

Our website and form processors may store or process data outside the UK. Where transfers occur, we ensure appropriate safeguards (such as UK International Data Transfer Agreement addenda or adequacy regulations) are in place.

Data Retention

We retain enquiry and instruction data for as long as necessary to fulfil the referral, handle follow-up, and meet legal and regulatory requirements - typically up to six years for business records unless a longer period is required. Analytics data is retained according to the configured retention period in Google Analytics (where enabled and consented).

Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request erasure in certain circumstances
• Restrict or object to processing in certain circumstances
• Data portability where processing is based on consent or contract
• Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior lawful processing)

To exercise these rights, email contact@damagesexpertwitness.co.uk. You may lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

Cookies

We use essential cookies for site functionality. Analytics cookies (e.g. Google Analytics) are used only where you have given consent via our cookie banner. You can withdraw consent at any time through your browser settings, Cookie Settings in the footer, or as described in our Cookie Policy.

Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. No transmission over the internet is completely secure; you provide information at your own risk where not using encrypted channels.

Children

Our services are directed at legal professionals. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 18.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top will change when we do. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy where permitted by law.

See also our Terms of Use and contact page.