**Managing BP Medical Claims with Nations Law Firm**

What Are BP Medical Claims?

Following the BP Oil Spill in 2010, thousands of people became ill from exposure to chemicals and toxins released into the Gulf waters. While claims related to clean up have been filed, a lesser known aspect of the BP Oil Spill is the ability of individuals to file claims for medical conditions caused by such exposure. Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, BP agreed to pay for the medical costs incurred by those who believe their illness was brought on or aggravated by chemical exposure related to the spill. The types of illnesses and injuries that may lead to a claim include respiratory conditions, skin conditions, cancer, eye conditions and other illnesses. Human health studies produced by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ("NIOSH") show that people who cleaned up around the oil spill were more likely to suffer long-term illness. Furthermore, according to peer reviewed medical research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, "oil spill clean-up workers developed more respiratory symptoms… especially cough, chest discomfort, shortness of breath on exertion, wheezing, and sputum." Another study conducted by the National Library of Medicine found that "compared to a control group of random Florida residents… more residents from the heavily oiled Gulf Coast counties reported gastrointestinal (GI) or respiratory symptoms . " The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also released a study that found that "in workers exposed to oil spills, respiratory system disorders appeared to be a concern," concluding that "[o]verall, the evidence for respiratory effects following exposure to oil spills is growing."
The claims that can be made include hearing loss, skin condition, neurological disorder, digestive disorder, reproductive system disorder, respiratory system condition, cancers, and death (asbestosis, chemical pneumonia, contact dermatitis, conjunctivitis, irritant dermatitis, eczema, chemical conjunctivitis, keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, chemical keratitis, corneal ulcer, corneal opacities, corneal injury, iritis, iridocyclitis, pemphegoid, allergic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergy, hay fever, acute pharyngitis, nasopharyngitis, laryngitis, acute upper respiratory infection, rhinitis, cryptic angina, dry mouth, dental calculus, epiphora, dry mouth, xerostomia, xerostomia sicca, irrtable bowel syndrome)
To qualify, you must have worked or lived in certain affected counties who were exposed to chemicals or oil. For those filing a claim for increased risk or future diagnosis of cancer or other diseases, you must have reside, worked, or visited the BP spill zone. For claims of wound infections, you must have worked, lived, or visited the BP spill zone AND you must have been diagnosed previously and presented to a medical professional for treatment. Further complicating this is that many people have started to suffer illnesses as late as 2013. This increases the potential groups of people who may be eligible to file a BP medical claim against BP.

The Nations Law Firm’s Role

As an advocate for those seeking compensation for medical impacts of the BP Oil Spill, The Nations Law Firm has successfully represented many clients. Another benefit to filing a claim with the Nations Law Firm is that we also support our clients in the discovery (investigative) process.
By conducting further research into the individual’s experience stemming from the spill, we can support our clients when the claims administrator (the appointed administrator for BP medical settlements) conducts its investigation. The law firm analyzes medical treatments, tests and diagnoses that each particular client has experienced. This is especially true in the case of onset types of injuries where symptoms develop later after direct exposure to contamination related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
When you hire The Nations Law Firm for handling your BP Oil Spill medical claims you are hiring experienced professionals. We have handled claims and lawsuits against large corporations for many years. We are well qualified to handle the BP medical claims process for you.

Submitting a BP Medical Claim

After we have vetted your case in the initial screening process, we will make sure you have all the proper medical documentation in order to file your claim with BP. The first step in the claims process for medical benefits is to submit a completed claim form. You may submit your claim online, but we generally prefer that you send in a hard-copy claim via certified mail so you have a return-receipt to prove the claim was submitted on time. You must have the assistance of a law firm to submit an elegibility claim. We help our clients obtain all of the required documentation and forms to submit their claims. A BP claim requires certain information, such as employment records, earnings statements, and any documentation of injuries. Applicants typically face difficult challenges during this process – many are invited in for examinations at the last minute or asked to provide additional paperwork with little notice for claim review. All BP claimants must be aware that their medical documentation can be reviewed and sent to a BP-selected doctor in New Orleans for a second opinion. In certain situations, this second opinion could contradict the decision made by your treating physician. We ensure that our clients continue to receive all necessary medical treatment and make sure all recommendations are met by their doctors if the BP appointed doctor recommends something different. Given the nature of complex issues that may arise when filing a BP claim, it is imperative that you are legally represented throughout the entire BP claims process.

BP Medical Claim Success Cases

Nations Law Firm has a proven track record of helping clients successfully navigate the complicated claims process established by BP after the 2010 spill, and of winning payouts for business owners, property owners and individuals harmed by the spill. Notable case studies include: A New Orleans bar owners’ successful claim that yielded tens of thousands of dollars, made possible in part by the legal expertise of Nations Law Firm . A New Orleans hotel conference center that successfully recovered a large payout for losses incurred after the spill, in part due to Nation’s help with litigating, mediating, and negotiating the case. The firm has also produced many positive client testimonials detailing their success in winning restitution from BP, all thanks to years of experience and superior legal representation.

Why Nations Law Firm?

Why choose Nations Law Firm? For starters, Michael B. Nations is a board-certified lawyer in Social Security Disability, with more than 30 years of multi-state experience and satisfied clients at his side. He is more than qualified to handle BP medical claims with a proven track record of success. His national practice is focused on BP litigation throughout all affected areas along the Gulf Coast. We handle mass tort litigation on a contingency basis.
At Nations Law Firm, we don’t just help our clients – we empower them. Our legal team educates clients on how to handle spill claims on their own, so that they’re prepared if they need to escape the convoluted process of the GP, ROV, and GCC.
We are located a few blocks from the entrance to the facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We are only minutes from the courthouse and the judge who is currently hearing the federal MDL case. We have access to the court reporters, and working relationships with the court that facilitate smooth business. The last time I checked, there were over 400,000 claimants listed on the federal MDL master docket, and the mass tort has not even concluded the gatekeeper phase of this case. There is no doubt that the number of claimants will continue to grow at a maddening pace, as it did in the BP Hurricane Katrina cases — now almost a decade ago. The cases are too numerous, the damages too difficult to comprehend, to go unchallenged.
With your best interest in mind, Nations Law Firm works on a contingency basis. This means you don’t owe us anything if we can’t win your case. If we do win, our fees come out of your final settlement. It’s a win-win scenario.

Frequently Asked Questions About BP Medical Claims

The process for BP medical claims is slightly different from the regular process. Your doctor is responsible for submitting your claim. They can submit it to NICOLE directly using NICOLE’s patients’ health services organization number to submit your claim for medical injury from the Deep Water Horizon explosion. BP has approved certain medical professionals to submit claims with your medical authorization. It is worth chilling out and talking to your doctor before submitting an attorney-contingent form approval with BP, which slightly differs from the standard medical releases used in a Class Action or mass tort suits. This allows your doctor to seek reimbursement directly without passing it through you first.
With a lawyer , it can take several months for a BP medical claim to be approved and to be processed. Without a lawyer, BP is able to delay claim payments. They will wait for months to request additional information and will delay payments for other reasons. Even though some medical claim payments have been made in the past, BP has sometimes requested a second submission. This has been found to be out of compliance with the settlement, but they have threatened to delay payment if resubmitted. Our clients rarely face these issues because we can communicate directly with BP. Claimants submitting on their own may wait weeks or months for a response or payment.
In essence, if you are not receiving your medical claim payments or are running into problems with the process, we recommend that you contact us.