The Orange County Oil Spill
On the evening of Friday, October 1, 2021, an oil pipeline operated by Amplify Energy of Houston, Texas burst open. Over 144,000 gallons of crude oil had spilled into the ocean by Wednesday October 6, 2021. The spill has affected an area from Huntington Beach south toward Dana Point. One of the worst oil spills off the coast of California in decades may have occurred when a ship’s anchor snagged the 18-mile-long Elly underwater pipeline before dragging it and causing a rupture that contaminated the water and surrounding coastal area.
Unfortunately, the impact of this type of accident is always quite extensive. The first to suffer is the environment, including precious species of birds and marine life as well as the surrounding wetlands in Bolsa Chica Reserve and Talbert Marsh. The citizens of Southern California are also affected by this tragedy. The economy of Orange County is heavily dependent on beach related tourism. Already, nearby communities in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Dana Point have had to cancel events and shut down businesses in order to facilitate the cleanup and prevent residents from inhaling toxic fumes from the crude oil. Every type of business from restaurants to gift shops, boat rentals, and hotels are suffering in addition to the countless home owners with beach front property. It is estimated that over 2,000 people are working on cleanup efforts to prevent the spill from spreading even further.
A number of state and federal statutes provide remedies to individuals and businesses affected by oil spills. Compensation may include spill related damage to property such as land and buildings. Health related injuries from the spill and cleanup may also be covered. Finally, you may be eligible to recover lost business profits, diminished earnings, and loss of salary to your employees. For businesses with insurance that covers this type of loss, there is the further burden of dealing with insurance companies to make them pay on claims. If you’ve been affected by the Orange County oil spill, having the right team on your side is critical. The Prestige Law Firm has the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals to put your life back on track swiftly, and with the least amount of pain. Please call the Prestige Law Firm to speak with one of our expert liability attorneys.