How to File a Defense Base Act (DBA) Claim

If you’re a contractor working in a country with an active US military installation and are injured on the job, then you could be eligible to receive compensation under the Defense Base Act. Enacted in 1941, the act is an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and is designed to assist civilian contractors working overseas for the Department of Defense.

Unlike the Longshore and Harbor Act, which is administered by the state workers’ compensation agencies, the Defense Base Act is handled by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, part of the Department of Labor. When you file a claim, your case will be assigned to the OWCP district office closest to where you live. In addition to medical benefits, you may be entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly wages and death benefits.

An experienced DBA lawyer can ensure that you get all the benefits to which you are entitled. To file a claim under the Defense Base Act, you must complete an LS-203 form and provide details of your injury to the OWCP. The claim will then be reassigned to the OWCP district office closest to your home, where you will meet with a claims examiner and discuss your situation. Folow this link: https://www.barneslawfirm.com/defense-base-act/ and get more details on the best DBA services.

A key aspect of the Defense Base Act is that your injury must have been caused by an “obligation or condition of employment” in a “Zone of Special Danger.” For example, if you are an employee who works on a US military base overseas and a poor construction project causes your roof to cave in, you would likely be eligible for DBA benefits because your employer obligated you to work in the Zone of Special Danger and you would not have been there but for your job.

The Barnes Law Firm covers all civilian employees who work outside the United States for the US Department of Defense. This is very different from the Longshore Act, which only covers dock and maritime workers. In fact, the Defense Base Act was enacted in 1941 in response to America’s gearing up for World War II, and it is one of many ways Congress has sought to help workers who are hurt in the line of duty while working abroad.

An employee who is denied benefits may appeal the OWCP’s decision to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, which will include witnesses and evidence. The judge will make a final determination of your eligibility.

If an employer fails to comply with the provisions of the Defense Base Act, they can be fined up to $10,000 or put in jail for up to a year. If the employer is a corporation, the president, secretary and treasurer are also jointly and severally liable for payment of any benefits to which an employee is entitled under the Act.

If you have been hurt on the job and believe that you might qualify for compensation under the Defense Base Act, then it’s important to speak with an attorney immediately. A knowledgeable Defense Base Act attorney can review your case and help you file an LS-203 form.Find out more details in relation to this topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Base_Act.