Problems Continue After the Gulf of Mexico Rig Explosion

The problems appear to continue following the deadly blast in the Gulf of Mexico, which occurred nearly two weeks ago.  On Tuesday, April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon owned by Transocean, exploded.  Eleven people are presumed dead and many more were injured.

According to BusinessWeek, the expanding oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may adversely affect production of oil and natural gas in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, which is a major hit considering that these states make up about 19 percent of the U.S. refining capacity.  President Barack Obama has referred to the situation as a “massive and potentially unprecedented” disaster that could impact the economy in the Gulf states, not to mention jobs.

The potential issues from the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion don’t stop there.  There are also concerns that the oil could lead to another fire and the spill could put off hazardous fumes, placing offshore workers at risk.

Lawsuits Have Been Filed
Lawsuits associated with the Transocean rig explosion have already been filed.  While many offshore workers and their family members who have been affected by this tragedy might be in a rush to pursue legal action, there is time.  This type of catastrophic rig accident falls under federal maritime law. The deadline to file a claim under this law is generally about 3 years from the accident, but there are some exceptions that could shorten this deadline. 

If you were on the Deepwater Horizon at the time of the explosion or if your family member was one of the victims, you don’t need to be in a hurry to file a lawsuit.  Also, at the same time, don’t let the companies that are involved put pressure on you to sign something, give a recorded statement or make a decision regarding a claim.  At this point, you should just focus on being with your loved ones.

I have written a report for the injured offshore workers and their families impacted by this tragedy.  You can order your free copy of The Most Common Questions About the Transocean Rig Explosion on our website.