Jones Act Maritime Lawyer : Houston Jones Act & Maritime Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : Offshore Injury, Maritime Law : Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida

A national commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill correctly concluded that the deadly and costly accident was the culmination of years of industry and government complacency and a lack of attention to safety, Texas offshore injury lawyer Jason Itkin said this week.

The report, issued January 11 by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, called for an overhaul of the approach of government and industry to drilling safety.

“We know that lack of attention to safety is dangerous. We’ve represented hundreds of injured offshore workers and repeatedly seen the lack of safety precautions that lead to preventable offshore accidents,” said Itkin, a partner in Arnold & Itkin LLP, a Houston, Texas-based maritime accident and injury law firm that represents several injured Transocean workers.

As offshore platforms drill in deeper waters where most of the oil resources remain, only systematic reforms to industry drilling practices and government oversight will reduce the chances of a future large-scale disaster similar to the Deepwater Horizon, the report concluded.

An explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon in April 2010 killed 11 maritime workers, injured dozens and created one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. BP was leasing the Deepwater Horizon from Transocean at the time of the fatal offshore accident and drilling about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast.

Houston offshore injury attorney Kurt Arnold, a partner in Arnold & Itkin LLP, said improvements to drilling safety would directly benefit offshore workers and indirectly help other Gulf coast industries.

“We’ve seen the harm the BP oil spill caused working families and many businesses along the Gulf from Texas to Louisiana to Mississippi,” he said. “We understand their struggles because we’ve sat in their homes and on the porches and listened. Everyone benefits from safer drilling practices that preserve clean beaches and open fishing grounds.”

If you have any questions regarding a maritime incident or have suffered a maritime injury, contact a maritime attorney online at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation or call our maritime law office toll free at 866-222-2606.

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On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary E. Landry said that the oil spill that followed the Transocean Deepwater Horizon explosion could “be one of the most significant spills in U.S. history."

The U.S. Coast Guard will consider burning oil on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico to reduce the volume. “It’s a tool in the tool kit and I want to have it as an option,” said Landry, the government coordinator of the spill response. “We fully understand that there can be benefits and tradeoffs to this.”

Following pressure from workers and their families, the Obama administration also announced Tuesday it was launching a full joint investigation into the cause of the explosion, which critically injured three workers and has left 11 missing. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar say they will devote every available resource to a comprehensive investigation of the explosion.

"Once again we see catastrophic injuries in one of the nation's most dangerous industries," said Kurt Arnold, a Houston maritime injury lawyer. "Greater safety measures need to be taken to prevent future accidents like this."

Jason Itkin, another Houston maritime injury lawyer, called for the creation of an offshore worker safety task force.

"Our firm is a member of the National Mariner's Association, and we have a deep interest in increasing and promoting the safety of offshore workers," Itkin said. "Accidents like this show additional safety measures are needed now."

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While BP announced better than expected earnings in the First Quarter 2010, the news did not stop investors from unloading its stock. Showing similar financial concern and investor worry, S&P Equity Research on Monday cut its rating on Transocean (RIG) to hold from strong buy, based on valuation.

The recent Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion highlights the risks and dangers associated with oil exploration and drilling. Also, the high price of cleaning up an environmental disaster, plus the costs associated with rebuilding the company's reputation if such a disaster hits, would have long-term negative effects on the company's profits and revenues.

As reported by the Houston Chronicle, 509 blazes have hit rigs since 2006. Several of these fires occurred on Transocean oil rigs resulting in serious injuries to Transocean workers that required evacuation and caused millions in damage.

Kurt Arnold, who has represented several clients in recent cases against Transocean Offshore and specializes in maritime injury cases said “Unfortunately, the rise of incidents offshore are increasing as the exploration for oil and gas increases,” Arnold said. “Many companies talk about their safety record, but the majority of accidents are not reported or misclassified. Unlike on land, there is little oversight.”

Efforts to seal the damaged well continue, as families and communities work together to begin the healing process of their own.

For More Information:
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