Defense Base Act Attorneys
For Civilians Injured Overseas

Defense Base Act FAQs (Part 1)

The Defense Base Act (DBA) is an extension of the federal workers comp program that covers those employed at U.S. defense bases overseas.

In this two part article our skilled and experienced defense Base Act attorney answer our clients frequently asked questions.

How Do I File a Defense Base Act Claim?

If you are injured on the job, you must report your injury to your supervisor as soon as possible.  You must also give notice in writing of the injury within 30 days, which sets your medical treatment in motion.

As with workers comp claims, your employer may ask that a doctor examine you to verify that you are indeed injured, that you are in need of treatment, and that you are entitled to benefits.  Based on the doctor’s report, the DBA will cover the costs of treatment, prescriptions, rehabilitation, and a travel allowance for your medical appointments.

Is there a Time Limit on Filing a Defense Base Act Claim?

After notifying your supervisor and employer, you must also file an official claim with the Office of Workers Compensation Programs within one year of the date of injury or the last payment of compensation, whichever occurs later.

However, if the claim is based upon an occupational injury (a condition that worsens over time) such as carpal tunnel syndrome or lung disease from breathing in fumes, then you have two years to file an official claim from the date that the injury was determined to be related to your employment.

How Are Defense Base Act Payments Administered?

In addition to providing medical treatment, if you are disabled for more than three days, the Defense Base Act may also compensate you for lost wages. This compensation generally consists of approximately 2/3 of your “average weekly wage” (AWW).

If you worked steadily for the year prior to your injury, your AWW is determined by taking your actual wages and divide that by 52. If you did not work steadily for the prior year, determining the AWW is slightly more complicated.

Do I Need an Attorney to File a Defense Base Act Claim?

Because the AWW determines both temporary and permanent disability compensation, it is important to come up with the maximum AWW possible. Seeking the advice of a Defense Base Act attorney at the very beginning is important to help you with DBA claims so that you are able to receive everything that is due you.

Additionally, the rules and regulations governing the Defense Base Act are quite complicated, and contain specific application deadlines regarding the appropriate amount of medical treatment and compensation. An experienced Defense Base Act attorney can advise you with respect to whether you are entitled to compensation and medical benefits, and if so, how best to proceed.

The expert Defense Base Act attorneys at Cantrell Green are the ideal choice to assist you with your Defense Base Act claims. We are law firm that specializes in DBA claims and insurance. We know from experience what is important to include in a Defense Base Act claim, how to calculate the maximum AWW for you, and how to smooth out any obstacles that will invariably occur with your DBA claim.

CLICK HERE for Part 2 of Defense Base Act FAQs

Best Defense Base Act Attorneys

Our highly specialized 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