Transocean_explosion
The litigation battle rising from the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska two decades ago, might seem like a schoolyard fight in comparison with the Transocean oil rig explosion-related lawsuits.
The Associated Press is reporting on the mounting lawsuits against many of the companies involved in the tragedy, including Transocean, BP as well as a variety of other companies responsible for equipment, processes and other activities related to the rig.
As an offshore injury attorney, I have been closing following all legal developments arising out of the Transocean off shore rig explosion. With 17 injured offshore workers, 11 workers dead, and more than 100 severely traumatized oil rig workers, Transocean, BP and other companies will have to be held accountable for the disaster. Besides, injury and wrongful death lawsuits that will arise from this explosion, there are also literally hundreds of thousands of plaintiffs watching the Gulf of Mexico oil spill with concern. These are mainly people along coastal towns along Louisiana and the Gulf Coast states, where the oil spill is expected to cause the most damage.
At least 26 federal lawsuits have been filed since the Transocean oil rig explosion. These plaintiffs include commercial fishermen, who are looking at their livelihoods being threatened by the increasing size of the oil slick. These people are looking at not just an abrupt end to this year’s fishing season, but also a halt to fishing activity over the next few years, as the oil devastates the marine and ecological systems here. Plaintiffs also include charter boat operators, tourist boat companies and other commercial activities that are going to be severely impacted by the oil spill.
While the Exxon Valdez oil spill was garagantuan in size, maritime safety experts believe that the Transocean oil rig spill is likely to have a much greater economic impact, because these are populated coastlines, where the chief occupations are fishing, tourism and shipping. All these industries are expected to be affected by the spill.
