In 1941, the United States was preparing for war with Germany and Japan. It was at this time that Congress passed the Defense Base Act. This act provides workers’ compensation type benefits for civilian employees of private companies that perform work overseas in support of America’s foreign policy. It is a companion to the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA). The DBA is similar to the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act of 1927 in that it covers non-military employees who suffer an injury on the job while performing work in foreign locations for the benefit of the United States.
The DBA applies to contractors and subcontractors who are hired by the federal government or the contractor’s parent company. It also applies to civilian contractors who are engaged in work under a contract with the federal government for public works or national security. The law also applies to employees working on any foreign military base. It does not, however, apply to civilians that work on any other land owned by the government, including U.S. territories.
If an employee is injured on a DBA claim, he or she files a form LS-203 with the U.S. Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs in the district office nearest to his or her primary residence. The initial report must include detailed information about the injury, such as the date and location of the accident and a description of the affected body parts. The report should also list the name of a physician who is authorized to evaluate and treat the injury.
Once a DBA injury is reported, the insurance carrier is obligated to pay the injured worker’s wage loss. This is usually equal to two-thirds of the average weekly wage until the injury is resolved. In addition, medical care is provided free of charge.
It is important to have the help of a specialized Defense Base Act attorney that is experienced in the process of filing a DBA claim and fighting with the insurance company. It is not in a worker’s best interests to attempt to handle a DBA claim on his or her own. A skilled DBA attorney will help a worker maximize the value of his or her claim.
Sara worked as a mechanic at an airbase. The job was physically demanding and required her to climb ladders, lift heavy objects, and be exposed to a number of dangerous conditions. Unfortunately, one day while she was working, Sara suffered an injury to her back. The injury caused her to miss a lot of work and needed medical treatment.
Sara’s employer filed a DBA claim and she was awarded disability payments. She was also given access to medical care, which included physical therapy. Throughout the process, she struggled with insurance issues, and at times her medical care was limited. Then, she began to notice a significant change in her ability to do the job. It was at this point that she contacted an experienced Defense Base Act attorney in Florida. For better understanding of this topic, please click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder.