How to Submit Deepwater Horizon Legal Claim

Big disaster due to Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill may result in huge legal claims from the victims. Generally, it will be brought to court as a class action or it can be individual lawsuits. BP has started accepting claims and the company promised to pay with the legitimate verifiable claims for the loss and destruction as a result of the spill. Claims may include:

• Mitigation and clean up of the spilled oil
• Real and property damages caused by the oil
• Assessment
• Commercial losses which include loss of profit and earnings
• Personal injury caused by the oil spill
• Other losses as defined by the applicable laws and regulations

Since the claim information of the BP stipulates that an individual who submits claim to BP will relinquish its right to submit other rights or join in separate legal actions associated with the Deepwater Horizon accident, completely understand your legal rights and how they can be affected by filing a lawsuit through BP, it is recommended that one should find an experienced lawyer who will explain and discuss your legal options and will represent you in handling your claim to BP.

Your claims can be submitted online through http://www.bp.com/iframe.do?categoryId=9033722&contentId=7062138, or you may call toll-free line for free which is accessible 24 hours daily,7 days every week at 1-800-400-0858.

For plaintiffs who have already filed their claims to BP and felt they are unsatisfied with the BP resolution, can call the Coast Guard National Pollution Fund Center or NPFC through (800) 280-7118.

Another alternative is visiting their official website to learn more through http://www.uscg.mil/npfc/Claims/default.asp. And more information is available at the Federal Disaster Assistance resources for the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Clean-up Activity for the Oil Spill of Deepwater Horizon

There was a Unified Command that was established to answer and mitigate environmental hazards caused by the Deepwater Horizon event. It is composed of private companies involved in the incident, the BP and Transocean incidents, and other federal agencies. The Deepwater Horizon Unified Command joins the organizations in responding and giving a forum for the organizations to make a unified decision.

The Joint Information Center of the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command gives coordinated and updated data regarding its response to Deepwater Horizon incident.

Investigation of Deepwater Horizon Incident

US Coast Guard and Mineral Management Services developed a Deepwater Horizon Join Investigation to determine the cause of the incident, support the safety of life and the property at the sea, and get information to prevent or lessen the effects of same fatalities in the future. This may happen through public hearings under the legal procedures for Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation.

The joint investigation team cannot accuse anybody of a crime, however, it may recommend any result of a criminal misdemeanor to the Department of Justice for probable prosecution. When the results and conclusions are accepted by the Coast Guard and Mineral Management Service, findings will be published in a final report.

President Obama signed an Executive Order on May 22, which develops a bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, which is given that tasks of giving recommendations how to avoid and lessen the effects of future spills that may result from offshore drilling.

Other federal investigations are being done relating to the Deepwater Horizon incident includes:

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee
• The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
• The newly-created Interior Department Outer Continental Shelf Safety Board
• The Interior Department reviews Minerals Management Service procedures
• The National Academy of Engineering

Ways Federal agencies and the States to ensure Food Safety

US Food and Drug Administration performs a compulsory safety program for all the fishes and fishery products under the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, and other related regulations. FDA program entails research, inspection, adherence, enforcement, outreach, and the development of regulations and industry guidelines.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration can close federal waters to avoid harvesting while the states can close waters within the three-mile limit. FDA is coordinating with NOAA and the states to check regularly the situation and make sure that adequate closures are in place. When in spite of these ways, there is contaminated seafood in the market where both FDA and the states can confiscate these contaminated products.

Resource on Updated Environmental Information

The Environmental Protection Agency posts updated environmental information through their respondents and equipment on its official EPA website. They are publishing updates regarding air data, water data, and sediments data.

Extending Help

You can recommend technology solutions through their official website http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/techsolution.html  and ask for volunteer information by contacting 1-866-448-5816. Keep updated with the opportunities to help in the clean-up and community support efforts. You can contact the following state volunteer centers:

• Alabama – http://www.servealabama.gov
• Florida: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org
• Louisiana: http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov
• Mississippi: http://volunteermississippi.org

Where to report oil spill sighting –

• Discussion about oil spill-related topics: 1 800-440-0858
• Report oiled wildlife: 1-866-557-1401
• Report oiled shoreline: 1-866-448-5816