BP Oil Spill

Irpino Law Firm’s Accident and Injury Lawyers Fight for Anyone Injured or Wronged by the BP Oil Spill

On April 20, 2010, the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Two days later, the rig sank and set off the worst oil spill in American history. The spill threatened the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas.

Transocean, the world’s largest offshore drilling contractor, owned the Deepwater Horizon. They leased the rig to British Petroleum (BP). At the time of the explosion, BP claimed the well was not leaking. Within days, BP acknowledged leaking of around 1,000 barrels of oil per day.

After BP’s initial efforts failed to stop the leak, they acknowledged that 5,000 barrels of oil (21,000 gallons) per day were being released into the Gulf of Mexico.

The BP oil spill affected the health and livelihood of millions of Gulf Coast residents and businesses, not to mention wildlife and other natural resources. Investigations into the cause of the Deepwater Horizon disaster reveal that BP and Transocean are at fault and liable to pay for any damages caused by the BP oil spill.

These facts and figures reveal the extent of damage caused by the BP Oil Spill:

11: Number of workers missing and presumed dead following the BP rig explosion. (Source: Huffington Post)

5,000 barrels a day: Rate at which oil leaked from the Deepwater Horizon rig—five times faster than was originally estimated. (Source: New York Times)

$300 million: Estimated cost to BP to plug up the leaking oil spill, not including environmental cleanup costs. (Source: New York Times)

$25 billion: Loss of market value to BP stock as a direct result of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and subsequent oil spill. (Source: Huffington Post)

16: Miles off the coast of Louisiana the oil slick has crept. (Source: New York Times)

At least 30: Species of birds the Audubon Society says affected by the oil spill. These include marsh birds, ocean-dwelling birds, and migratory songbirds. All reside in “Important Bird Areas,” according to Audubon, designated because of their “essential habitat value.” Among the most vulnerable species is the brown pelican—the state bird of Louisiana—which was only recently removed from the endangered species list. The spill is especially devastating for bird populations because it coincides with the beginning of breeding season. (Source: Audubon Society)

25 million: Number of birds that traverse the Gulf Coast per day, and which were potentially at risk from the oil spill. According to the LA Times Greenspace Blog, “Late spring is the peak time for neo-tropical songbirds moving from the Yucatan Peninsula to make their first landfall in Louisiana,” and “more than 70% of the country’s waterfowl frequent the gulf’s waters.” (Source: LA Times Greenspace Blog)

11 million: Number of gallons of oil leaked into Alaska’s Prince William Sound in 1989 by the Exxon Valdez oil leak. Before the BP oil spill, the Valdez disaster was widely considered the worst oil spill in U.S. history, although a number of larger spills have happened around the world, including the 2002 Prestige spill off Spain. (Source: CBS News)

400: Number of wildlife species threatened by the spill. Threatened species include sea life such as whales, tuna, and shrimp; dozens of species of birds; land animals such as the gray fox and white-tailed deer; and amphibians such as the alligator and the snapping turtle. (Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune)

600 square miles: Latest reported size of the oil slick. In response to reports of the blooming size of the spill, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency even before the spill reached Louisiana’s shores. (Source: CNN)

$1.5 billion: Amount in insurance claims experts believe the BP spill will cost insurers.

Why You Need Irpino Law Firm’s Accident and Injury Lawyers If You Were Affected by the BP Oil Spill

Irpino Law Firm is already working on behalf of those harmed by the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. We’re assisting home and business owners, fisherman, divers, oystermen, shrimpers, maritime workers, longshore workers, and anyone else whose livelihood has or will be negatively affected by the rig explosion and subsequent oil spill.

Irpino Law Firm has extensive experience with class action lawsuits, including cases involving the BP oil spill and other industrial disasters. Our team of dedicated attorneys is ready to make your case in court and help you receive compensation for your lost income, chemical exposure, pain, and suffering.

If you or a loved one was affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster or the BP oil spill, please contact Irpino Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation. Or call us at 1-800-7500-LAW.

Other BP Oil Spill Resources:

To report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: 866-448-5816

To submit alternative response technology, services, or products: 281-366-5511

To submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system: 281-366-5511

To submit a claim for damages: 800.-440-0858

To report oiled wildlife: 866-557-1401

To contact the Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center: 985-902-5231

For information about the response effort, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.

For information about validated environmental air and water sampling results, visit www.epa.gov/bpsill.