In 2010 The Deepwater Horizon oil spill dumped millions of barrels of crude oil onto the coastline of Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, affecting 1,313 miles of shoreline. A recent report by the US Government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration emphasized that the amount of shoreline affected is 19% more than was originally thought following the spill.
In the years that have followed the largest oil spill in history the evidence of damage to wildlife, sea life and human life continues to mount. The crude oil itself destroyed the vast majority of the shrimping industry, and continues to show its impact on local dolphins, whales and other sea mammals that have failed to reproduce normally. In light of the new study, it is hard to imagine the staggering impact of the spill and add an additional 19% to that.
In terms of effect on the human population, the results are still coming in. In the immediate aftermath of the spill, many local residents and 48,000 clean up workers were exposed to the crude oil itself, and the combination of crude oil and Corexit, the detergent that was used initially to clean up the spill.
Corexit has been shown to attack epithelial cells, such as those found in lungs and the gills of fish. As many as 200,000 people have received medical care directly related to the spill, paid for by the BP cash settlement with the affected communities. Many more residents who continue to suffer from the affects of the toxins remain untreated and sick.
Those affected by the spill and the clean up display a range of respiratory symptoms, including:
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic bronchitis
- Asthma
- Dizziness, fainting
- Cognitive processing issues, memory loss
Since the BP settlement payout, many locals have filed private law suits against BP to seek compensation for the drastic loss of livelihood they have suffered. As the toll continues to rise, it is clear that the initial sum BP paid out to community health facilities was grossly inadequate, and that local residents and fisherman who have become ill and impoverished have nowhere to turn.
If you have suffered a loss of income or change in your health as a result of the Gulf oil spill, you may have a case against BP. Contact Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath so we can help you build a case and get the compensation you deserve. Call 561-665-1990 or contact us online to make an appointment for your free consultation.
