What is a "Legitimate" Claim to BP? Not Every Loss can Be Quantified

By Mona Loeser

For weeks now we have heard that BP will pay all legitimate claims. Though I have never heard them state exactly what they mean by that I have to assume that the forms a claimant must fill put require them to prove that they have suffered a financial loss. But what about the losses that are not so easily quantified.

In 1969 Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote On Death and Dying in which she described the 5 emotional stages people go through when dealing with the knowledge of their impending death. Recently her concept has been applied more widely - to those experiencing any catastrophic loss or disaster. So far, the people in the Gulf Coast seem to be following it to a tee.

The first stage is 'denial' and for the first month or more most of us wanted to believe that a huge company like BP would surely be able to crimp that well closed and the oil in the sea would just disperse. But it didn't.

Next is 'anger'. Anyone watching the news has seen how the anger and rage has mounted.

Then comes 'bargaining' and we see this stage as we ask for millions of dollars to compensate for our losses.

Then comes 'depression'. I don't think we have entered this stage yet. But it's coming. And when it does you will see an increase in people feeling severely anxious and deeply depressed. This is the phase that concerns me. For how do we quantify a heart attack or a stroke? How do we prove that it was directly caused by the oil spill? How can you say that an act of domestic violence or a relapse back to substance abuse is the cause of the oil spill? How do you put a value on a marriage that breaks under the strain of the losses? Do these fall under 'legitimate' claims? How do you decide what the cash value is of those losses? Long after the businesses have been financially compensated the physical and emotional damage will remain.

The last phase is 'acceptance'. During that phase we come to terms with our inevitable fate and try to go on. Those affected by this tragedy will do just that - eventually. But not for quite a while.

There is no doubt about it - we are going through the stages of death and dying. And while it is certainly sad to see the environment being destroyed and watching industries suffer financial ruin the actual toll on human life is yet to be addressed. In the end, this will be the greatest tragedy of all.

Mona Loeser has been a clinical social worker for over 20 years and has a private practice in Mobile Alabama. She writes for numerous online publications. Her company web site is http://www.helpingfamiliesrecover.com. She specializes in martial and relationship issues as well as parenting and mental health, crisis intervention - was a first responder during 911 and Hurricane Katrina- and provides substance abuse assessments and assists families to complete their adoption in home studies. She is a mother and grandmother, and an avid gem collector.

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