Defense Base Act Articles
For Civilians Injured Overseas

Why You Should Hire a Specialized Defense Base Act Attorney for Your DBA Case

If you are a civilian contractor who was injured while working on a military base overseas, you likely already know that your employer is responsible to provide a special type of Workers Compensation to you, under the Defense Base (DBA). These benefits include all medical treatment costs, disability benefits, and in the event of a fatality death benefits.

And, unlike regular workers’ comp, DBA benefits apply whether the injury happened while the worker was “on the clock” or not. Both permanent disability and death benefits under the Defense Base Act apply for life.

Injured defense contractors are not required to have an attorney to apply for these benefits. So, many injured civilians just “trust the system” and apply for benefits on their own. But, sadly, the determination of disability is made by the very same business whose pocket the compensation comes out of: the insurance company. As a result, many DBA claims are wrongfully denied.

In this article our experienced, skilled and knowledgeable DBA lawyers explain how hiring a specialized Defense Base Act attorney can help you obtain the workers’ compensation you deserve..

1. Defense Base Act Attorneys Fight Wrongful Denials

Many people wrongly assume that employers of overseas contractors will automatically pay Defense Base Act benefits to an injured worker. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

DBA coverage is, in fact, just another type of Workers Compensation. And just like regular Workers Comp benefits, employers often refuse to voluntarily reward Defense Base Act benefits.

In many cases, the employer and/or their insurance company will have a team of adjusters, investigators and aggressive defense lawyers who try to find any and every possible reason to deny DBA claims, or at least severely limit the amount of compensation that is awarded.

In these cases, you need to “fight fire with fire” – and an experienced and aggressive Defense Base Act attorney will know how to protect your rights and obtain DBA benefits covered when you have suffered a legitimate injury.

2. Defense Base Act Attorneys Get Maximum Benefits

Talking to a specialized Defense Base Act attorney, like the lawyers at Cantrell Green immediately following your injury also helps ensure that you will receive all of the benefits you are entitled to as an overseas contractor.

Many times your employer or their insurance company will tell you that you are receiving all of the benefits you are entitled to, when in fact you are not getting the full DBA compensation for which you qualify. Sometime they will even craftily draw up the settlement papers to terminate a worker’s right to all future benefits under the Defense Base Act!

Having an experienced Defense Base Act attorney by your side is the best way to assure you receive all of the benefits for which you qualify, and that you are not “railroaded,” given bad information, or taken advantage of.

3. The Defense Base Act Differs From State Workers’ Comp Programs

While Defense Base Act benefits are a type of workers compensation, the application and appeals process is very specific and very different from state workers’ compensation programs. For example, even if a worker suffers a legitimate injury while working as a civilian contractor abroad, the employer can deny your DBA claim without a hearing.

The burden then falls on the injured civilian to prove that their injury is compensable under the Defense Base Act. A specialized Defense Base Act attorney is the only ally that will understand the DBA process inside and out, and can help you through the system employer denies your claim without cause.

4. Not all Attorneys Understand the Defense Base Act

In the more than 75 years since it was enacted, the Defense Base Act law has gone through numerous changes. General practice lawyers, and even regular workers’ comp attorneys, simply do not have the in-depth understanding of this complex piece of legislation that specialized DBA attorneys have.

When you are faced with a denial of a Defense Base Act claim, you need an attorney familiar with the applicable laws, procedures and requirements for proving and winning a DBA claim.

Best Anaheim Defense Base Act Attorneys

Our highly specialized and knowledgeable Defense Base Act attorneys are committed to ensuring that every injured or disabled civilian employee obtains the benefits he or she has earned. We have successfully filed hundreds of Defense Base Act applications and appeals – obtaining millions of dollars in DBA benefits in over four decades of legal service.

Call today, or fill out the short form on the right to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with one of our skilled and experienced Defense Base Act Attorneys.

Free Consultation with a Defense Base Act Attorney: 800-964-8047