Let’s Dig Deeper Into Who BP Is Really Trying to Blame

There has been a lot of finger pointing and accusations being made following the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion, but BP has possibly taken it a step too far. BP has publicly blamed Transocean and Halliburton implying things like Transocean was at fault when a safety seal failed and Halliburton was responsible because there were problems with the cement surrounding the rig. Those allegations are one thing, but it is what lies underneath that is so troublesome.

On the surface, it appears that BP is just attacking the companies, but when you really analyze who they are attacking, they are not the executives. Even though they aren’t actually saying it, they are blaming the manager and higher-level Transocean workers on that rig. If they were accusing Transocean, would they have just renewed another contract with the company?

60 Minutes just aired a segment about the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. During the show, an engineering professor from the University of California Berkeley disagreed with BP’s assertion that the responsibility for safety on the Deepwater Horizon was Transocean’s. The professor said it is “shared responsibility.” Not surprisingly, BP cancelled its interview with the show.

Your Rights
If you have been injured on the Deepwater Horizon, we understand that you probably have a lot of questions regarding your legal rights. As a rig manager or other worker, you are protected under a federal maritime law, known as the Jones Act. Here are some things you need to understand about this law:

• The Jones Act protects the rights of injured seamen. A seaman is a worker who spends over 30 percent of his or her time on a vessel in navigable waters.
• As a seaman you can request a jury trial and your case can be filed in state or federal court.
• Jones Act compensation includes maintenance and cure, unearned wages, lost wages (past and future) and damages for personal injury. If negligence caused your injuries, you could be entitled to damages, such as pain and suffering, disfigurement, impairment and loss of enjoyment of life.

If you are considering filing a claim for your injuries, you need to take the appropriate steps. We would encourage you to order a copy of maritime attorney Brian Beckcom’s book, Answers to The Most Common Questions About the Transocean Rig Explosion, which will provide you the information you need. You can also contact our office for a free consultation at 877.724.7800.