The April 2010 BP oil spill was a man-made disaster that is going to impact the Gulf of Mexico region for many coming years. It affected thousands of people and hampered many businesses in the region. It was a disastrous oil spill in history that has changed the legal landscape and raised many questions, and the courts and regulatory agencies started to have their say.

This blog is about some of the concerns raised by the BP oil spill and of options for individuals and businesses affected by the catastrophe.

The BP oil spill promoted the filing of many lawsuits.

That disaster inspired several lawsuits. Here are some of the lawsuits filed over the BP oil spill.

• Loss of profits by business and individual losses. Many workers and businesses in the Gulf region filed lawsuits against BP, seeking compensation for their oil spill losses. The plaintiffs included employees and companies in the fishing, oyster, and shrimp industry; and hotels, boat operators, owners who rent their property, and many other businesses.
• Damage to the environment. Numerous lawsuits were filed for environmental damage caused by the oil spill, including damage to wetlands, coastline, wildlife, and various harm to the Gulf region ecosystem.
• Damage of property. The oil spill damaged residential, commercial, and underdeveloped property in the Gulf coastline and also many offshore islands. Some lawsuits are filed on the use of dispersants to help clean up the spill as there are property and health issues due to their usage.
• Claims for personal injury and wrongful death demanded by rig workers and their families.
• Health risks from the cleanup. Many workers clean up and burn off oil in the Gulf post the episode claims for health issues allegedly connected with the cleanup.
• BP-shareholder lawsuits.

Who can be sued with oil spill lawsuits?

Regarding lawsuits over the 2010 disaster, BP is in front as it has the main role, but other parties could be on the legal hook, and lawsuits are targeted against them. They include:

• Transocean, who owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig
• Halliburton, the good contractor
• Cameron International, the manufacturer of the blowout preventer for underwater wells, failed to function and could not stop or reduce the spill’s damage.

Fines against BP

BP had to face many regulatory actions over the disaster. In 2015, the company reached an agreement with five states and the US Department of Justice to pay $18.7 billion as a settlement.

Some months after the catastrophe, BP announced to set up a $20 billion escrow fund to compensate the businesses and workers in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas whose people had suffered from the oil spill.

Claims can be filed for health issues or injuries related to the spill. The process may take longer, but a reputed lawyer can help you ease the process and help you receive your claims earlier.

Get help from an expert

People and businesses who suffered damages to property, livelihood, and finance due to the BP oil spill life is tough. DO you need to file claims under BP’s $20 billion fund, or should you file a lawsuit against them? Is there any existing legal action ongoing against them that you could join?

The questions are many, and the legal landscape is difficult to navigate. It is suggested to discuss with an experienced lawyer who has been dealing with such cases and has a proper understanding of legal options and processes related to the processing of the BP oil spill claims.