Privacy Pages

This Privacy notice covers how we use your information in the claims process. Personal information is provided by those making or defending a claim as part of the claims process. This is necessary to allow investigation into the claim and communication with those involved.

East Sussex Highways takes data protection seriously. Please be assured that your information will be used appropriately in line with data protection legislation, will be stored securely and will not be processed unless the requirements for fair and lawful processing can be met.

What information is being used?

Data used in each case varies but can include:

• Names of individuals involved, personal contact information, date of birth, national insurance number, and occupation
• Details of personal injury relevant to the claim
• Details of vehicle involved including registration number, car make, model, MOT and insurance Information.
• Name and contact Information for witnesses to the incident.

How will your information be used?

Your information will be used to:

• investigate the claim
• to contact you to discuss the matter further
• fill out our legal obligations
• prevent fraud

We aim to maintain high standards, adopt best practice for our record keeping and regularly check and report on how we are doing. Your information is never sold for direct marketing purposes.

Our staff are trained to handle your information correctly and protect your confidentiality and privacy.

What is the legal basis for processing your information?

The legal basis for processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller. (Highways Act, 1980)

How long will your information be kept for?

For civil litigation, not involving minors, information will held for 7 years following the closure of the case. For civil litigation insurance claims involving minors, information will be held for 25 years from the date of birth of the minor.

Paper copies of claim forms will be held for 6 months and then disposed of confidentially.

Sharing your information

Information is only shared with those who have a "need to know". This includes:

• our external insurance company
• a legal obligation to pass personal injury claimants information onto the Department of Work and Pensions Compensation Recovery Unit regardless of liability

We may use the information we hold about you to assist in the detection and prevention of crime or fraud. We may also share this information with other bodies that inspect and manage public funds. 

Use of third party organisations

To enable us to provide our services, East Sussex Highways may share your information with trusted external organisations to process your data on our behalf. Any organisation commissioned by the Council will be under contractual obligation to comply with data protection legislation.

Your rights

Under data protection legislation, you have the right:

• to be informed why, where and how we use your information
• to ask for access to your information
• to ask for your information to be corrected if it is inaccurate or incomplete
• to ask for your information to be deleted or removed where there is no need for us to continue processing it
• to ask us to restrict the use of your information
• to ask us to copy or transfer your information from one IT system to another in a safe and secure way, without impacting the quality of the information
• to object to how your information is used
• to challenge any decisions made without human intervention (automated decision making)

You can find out more about your rights on the East Sussex County Council website or contact the East Sussex County Council Customer Team (details below).

How to find out more or to complain

East Sussex Highways is part of East Sussex County Council. You can find out more about data protection on the East Sussex County Council website.

Should you have any further queries on the uses of your information, please speak to our Highways Customer Team on 0345 60 80 193, raise a general enquiry online, or write to: East Sussex Highways, Ringmer Depot, The Broyle, East Sussex, BN8 5NP

To request a copy of your information or make a complaint, please contact the East Sussex County Council Customer Team online, phone 01273 482913 or write to:

Customer Services Team, East Sussex County Council, W1D, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE.