My Louisiana seafood business has been disrupted because of the BP oil spill. Do I have claim?

If you have lost income, been out of work or had an interruption of business, you may have a claim for compensation. You may also have a claim if you’ve had property damage from the oil spill. Filing a claim for interim payments does not preclude you from filing a lawsuit later.

The Oil Pollution Act, a federal law passed after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, allows people who are dissatisfied with the results of their claim to file a lawsuit. The Oil Pollution Act expanded liability of oil polluters and made it easier to bring claims for a variety of damages. For example, hotel owners along the Gulf can bring claims based on cancellations and lost revenue—even if their hotel property wasn’t itself soaked in oil.

The extent to which the Oil Pollution Act and other laws provide avenues for recovery has not been clarified in every situation. Individuals, businesses and property owners with environmental contamination or who are directly touched by the oil spill obviously have viable claims. Businesses that have been adversely affected by the spill, such as by a downturn in tourism, may also have claims. The more remote the business is from the Gulf, the greater the supporting evidence may be to make a successful claim. An experienced oil spill accident lawyer can evaluate your situation and advise you on your best legal options.

The unprecedented harm of the BP spill will continue to affect property owners, business and individuals for years to come. The Oil Spill Task Force, sponsored by Arnold & Itkin LLP, coordinates the financial, legal and investigative resources needed to represent the claims of businesses and individuals whose livelihoods and property are threatened by the BP oil spill. If you would like to discuss your complaint, then please call877-398-4972. We focus on representing your financial interests in claims against BP.