Defense Base Act Archives - Barnes Law Firm

Defense Base Act Claims: What Does DBA Insurance Cover?

As of March 2021, the U.S. filed 5,071 total Defense Base Act claims. Minimum benefits were $0 for injured workers with 0-3 days of lost time. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) authorizes 700 insurance carriers to dispense benefits. Of those, only three carriers provide DBA coverage. If you’re ...

DBA Death Benefits: What a DBA Lawyer Can Do

Since the start of the war in Afghanistan from 2001 to this year, it is estimated that over 8,000 contractors have lost their lives. Thankfully, Defense Base Act claims have provided much-needed compensation to most of their surviving families, but not all. Filing a claim for death benefits and hiring a ...

How to File a PTSD Claim Under the Defense Base Act?

Many government employees are civilians who are contracted to work outside of the U.S. government at some point in their careers. Being in foreign countries can be traumatizing if you are stationed in a warzone or were directly impacted by a traumatic situation. If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms ...

How Much Compensation Can You Expect From a Qui Tam Lawsuit?

Although qui tam lawsuits have existed for hundreds of years, not everybody has appreciated them. In fact, although these lawsuits were invented in England some hundreds of years ago, England would later abolish the qui tam lawsuit in 1951. The defining feature of the qui tam lawsuit is that the ...

When Do You Need to Hire a Qui Tam Lawyer?

If you see something, say something. That’s the mantra, anyway. Speaking out against an injustice or wrongful act isn’t as simple as that mantra makes it out to be, though. Often, real-life whistleblowers suffer immense harm by speaking their truth. Don’t believe me? We encourage you to look at ...

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out Defense Base Act Claims

In 2019, 53,000 American contractors were working in the Middle East, which is much more than the total troop amount of 35,000. Essential defense contractors can suffer the same injuries as active-duty members (such as TBI, tinnitus, or PTSD). These injuries can impact your quality of life and income, and a ...

How a DBA Lawyer Can Get You Amazing Results

Since 1941, the Defense Base Act has been protecting countless contractors injured overseas. Although the law is intended to be on your side, insurance companies are often not. Unfortunately, even if the process is accurately followed, DBA claims still tend to be denied, undervalued, or delayed. A DBA lawyer can guide ...

Who Pays Defense Base Act Attorney Fees?

In 2015, there was a $2 billion lawsuit filed against government contractors accused of intentional DBA claim denials. DBA claims can lead to substantial payouts, but to get paid you will likely need a Defense Base Act Attorney. If you want to get DBA claim approval or a high settlement but ...

7 Things You Need to Know Before Filing Successful DBA Claims

Civilian employees disabled overseas could receive weekly compensation up to $1,632.70. And this is only part of the benefits covered under the Defense Base Act (DBA). If you suspect you or a family member may be DBA eligible, keep reading. It’s important you understand seven key facts to successfully file DBA ...

Defense Base Act Personal Injury Legal Services

You’ve been told that your personal injury case qualifies you for help under the Defense Base Act. So what do you do now? How do you find personal injury legal services who are qualified to handle your DBA claim? And what exactly can they do for you? If you’ve been ...

Guide to DBA Claims for Employees of US Embassies

Around the globe, the United States has 307 U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions. The US embassy presence is felt in 190 countries outside of the US. That means there are a whole lot of US citizens working in those embassies and consulates doing important and sometimes dangerous work on behalf ...

Workers’ Compensation for Civilian Employees and Military Contractors

If you are injured on the job, it is vital to understand your rights to workers’ compensation. This is doubly important if you are a civilian employee or military contractor working with the US military. What is covered under the DBA, and what do you need to know? Workers’ ...

DBA Claims for PTSD: When Am I Eligible?

June is PTSD awareness month and this is a great step in the right direction for PTSD awareness. Years ago, PTSD was called “shell-shock” and “battle fatigue”, and unfortunately, largely ignored. Thankfully, there have been strides made to help people who have PTSD get treatment. However, people stationed overseas are often ...

Your DBA Claim Was Denied: Now What?

You have to expect the unexpected when working as a contractor overseas. Risks and complications abound, whether you’re employed on a public works contract or in a security position. Unlike many other occupations, you also face a higher risk of injury or even death. This reality gets exacerbated if you work ...

Tips for Working With a DBA Lawyer

When a soldier gets injured, they receive the Purple Heart. When a military contractor gets injured, they may receive nothing. The only way for you to get the compensation you deserve is by filing a DBA claim. More than 15,000 people filed claims during the fiscal year of 2020. But less ...

What Constitutes a DBA Claim?

The most common type of workers’ compensation, according to federal figures, is those caused by motor vehicles. By that same accounting, the most costly, averaging more than $100,000 in lost wages, is workers’ compensation due to an amputation. And while many workers’ compensation claims are not as outwardly tragic, they can ...

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Filing Defense Base Act Claims

As a contractor who works for the government overseas, you need to know there is protection available for you if the worst happens. This protection comes from the defense base act in the form of compensation and may mean you qualify for assistance. Many people don’t know this is available to them, so ...

5 DBA Lawyer Facts to Know Before Hiring an Attorney

Do you have military-related health concerns? Or maybe you got injured while working overseas? Either way, a DBA lawyer might be exactly what you need. According to Defense Pricing and Contracting, DBA insurance is required for all public works contracts performed unless a waiver is obtained. This means that if you got ...

What Types of Claims Does a Defense Base Act Lawyer Handle?

Have you worked as a civilian on a military base on non-American soil? Have you been seriously injured and disabled because of this work? Then your particular case is a job for a Defense Base Act lawyer. A DBA lawyer helps civilian workers just like you to receive fair ...

5 PTSD Signs and Symptoms (and When to Call Your Lawyer)

Here’s the deal: Almost 10% of American adults have dealt with PTSD at one point or another. But what are the signs of PTSD and how can you treat it? PTSD signs and symptoms can easily go unnoticed, so you must be aware of what to watch out for. Take a ...

When Is DBA Insurance Needed?

What do you do when you’re overseas working on a U.S. military base and lose your foot in an accident? In most cases, you’ll want to go home to recover around your family and loved ones. But, what about all the expenses? How are you going to be able to ...

When Do You Hire a Defense Base Act Lawyer?

Each year, the United States contracts civilians for numerous projects worldwide through the Defense Base Act (DBA). These projects often expose civilians to dangerous situations. Anything can happen while working on the job. Have you been injured, or are you suffering in other ways from your experiences overseas? Will you be ...

The List of Things Your Defense Base Act Attorney Needs to Do When You Are Denied Benefits

A painful injury far from home, lost earnings, laborious paperwork, uncertainty: Defense Base Act claims are already stressful enough. So a rejected claim can feel like adding insult to injury. Insurance companies count on claimants feeling too overwhelmed and disheartened by the denial of a claim to pursue it ...

Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Defense Base Act

Crack! That’s the sound of one of your bones breaking on the job at a U.S. military base overseas. You worry that there’s no workers’ comp as there would be if you’d been hurt on the job stateside. As it turns out, there’s no need to worry. The Defense ...

A Guide to Defense Base Act Claims for PTSD

Over the past decade, U.S. government contractors have been working around the globe in warzones. Among contractors who were studied, 25% of them met the criteria for PTSD. Within recent years, more time has been devoted to raising public awareness about service members with PTSD. Yet awareness of this situation is not ...

Does DBA Coverage Extend To Overseas Military Contractors?

In Defense Base Act

Overseas military contractors may be qualified for Defense Base Act (DBA) benefits, something crucial if you sustain injuries or contract an illness. DBA coverage allows your employer to send you home if your condition warrants it, making these benefits critical for contractors such as longshore and harbor workers. In ...

DBA and Compensation: Scheduled vs Unscheduled Permanent Injuries

Federal law requires employees overseas to secure workers’ compensation insurance through US government contractors. It’s crucial to know the different types of permanent injury claims in order to access rights to your benefits. Seeking workers’ compensation can be stressful when you’re trying to make ends meet. The process is easier when ...

DBA Claims 101: Understanding “Temporary Total Disability”

One out of eleven people will be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in their lifetime. PTSD can ruin lives and make once functioning adults incapable of providing for themselves. If you suffer from PTSD or have sustained some other form of emotional or physical trauma while working overseas as a ...

How Weekly Average Wages Are Calculated Under the DBA

Around 26% of civilian workers experience PTSD from their work environments. They also have high rates of injury on the job, making a regular work routine impossible. So how do you continue to live freely if you’re injured and unable to work? The Defense Base Act is there to provide compensation to employees ...

Insurance Investigation: What Does DBA Mean in Insurance?

The Defense Base Act (DBA) guarantees the benefits of workers’ compensation to civilian contractors and subcontractors working overseas for the U.S. military. What does DBA mean? DBA covers nearly any contract with a U.S. government agency for work performed outside of the country and guarantees protections similar to workmen’s. ...

Cost Questions: Is DBA Insurance an Allowable Cost?

Defense Base Act Insurance (DBA) was enforced by the War Hazard Compensation Act and is crucial for all US government employees working overseas. The law insists that workers’ compensation benefits are available for those individuals covered and that these are delivered correctly and promptly. But is DBA Insurance an allowable cost? Read on to learn more… DBA Insurance ...

DBA Details: How Do I File a Defense Base Act Claim?

When you’ve been injured, you deserve help. The federal government provides for its soldiers. One of the ways it delegates resources is through the Defense Base Act. If you are hurt on a defense base overseas, you may be entitled to compensation. But many people who get injured never ...

Is DBA Insurance Required for Foreign Nationals?

In a world as uncertain as ours, insurance coverage is a must-have. And when it comes to coverage for contractor employees working outside the United States on US military bases or for the government for public works or national defense, Defense Base Act Insurance (DBA) is especially crucial. But is DBA Insurance Required for ...

3 Tips To Know When Hiring a Defense Base Act Lawyer

The Defense Base Act was enacted in the midst of World War II. As you start to look at Defense Base Act lawyers, consider this: First, the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act passed. Then in December 1942, it was amended to include the Defense Base Act, expanding coverage. Now, ...

Defense Base Act Attorneys: When to Hire Them

Over 39 million people per year in the US visit a physician due to unintentional injuries. Thousands of injuries happen each day all around the nation. While many injuries do occur within the continental United States, there are additional injuries happening on international US military bases that many people forget ...

What Do Base Act Claims Do?

According to the U.S Department of Workers’ Compensation, Defense Base Act Claims have seen a 26 percent rise in the last year. The highest of these claims come from workers in Iraq, followed by Afghanistan. So, what is the Defense Base Act and who does it serve to protect? Let’s take ...

Who Would Hire a DBA Lawyer? What Should You Ask Them?

Have you been injured? If you have been injured and cannot work, there are probably many questions running through your head. How will you pay your bills? What protection does your employer offer in this situation? How do you go about getting compensated for your injuries while at work? ...

The Next Steps if Your DBA Benefits Claim Is Denied

Statistics show that, on average, a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds. This is a huge problem in more dangerous working environments, such as military bases. Injuries in these settings are common and have the potential to be very serious. If you suffer an injury or fall ...

Injured in a Work Accident at a Military Base Overseas? How the DBA Protects You

Did you know that the US operates almost 800 military bases in 70 countries around the world? In addition to the military personnel who get stationed there, countless civilian workers also take jobs on military bases overseas. They sign a contract with the US government for their services, whether it’s for national ...

Civilians Working Overseas Are Susceptible to PTSD

PTSD can strike at any time. On the battlefield or on the base, while working overseas or while relaxing at home, you can suffer the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Thankfully PTSD is manageable. You can receive treatment and workers compensation under the Defense Base Act. Here is a ...

DBA Insurance Considerations as a Defense Contractor

There are around 1.4 million Americans currently on active military service. This number makes the military the biggest federal government employer. And that’s not all. There are also those who work as military contractors without being enlisted members of the armed forces. This can be a hugely rewarding career, allowing a ...

Why Should You Hire a Specialist DBA Lawyer?

Are you considering whether to hire a lawyer to represent you in your Defense Base Act (DBA) claim? There are more than 1.3 million lawyers in the United States but it’s important to hire the best one to represent you in your case. The DBA is an Act that gives civilian ...

6 Pieces of Advice About Your DBA Claim From Your Attorney

Did you know that defense contractors suffer from PTSD more than military personnel? A recent online research poll found that 25% of defense contractors suffer from PTSD, while only 11-20% of military personal do. Are you a civilian defense contractor or interpreter who’s worked overseas on military bases and in US Embassies? ...

How a Defense Base Act Attorney Can Help a Defense Contractor

Are you a defense contractor with the United States military or government? Serving as a contractor is honorable work that many find worthwhile. Yet, it comes with a considerable amount of risk, as contractors are sometimes placed in dangerous situations. This sometimes leads to a number of injuries, ranging ...

3 Things To Look for in a Defense Base Act Lawyer

Are you looking for a Defense Base Act Lawyer that can best represent your interests? If you’re wondering how to find the best DBA lawyer for your case, keep reading. In this guide, we will go over some steps you can take to find a Defense Base Act Attorney ...

Contractor Life on US Military Bases: How the Pandemic Has Affected It

If you’re one of the over 600,000 estimated civilian defense contractors, you know that working and living on US military bases isn’t easy. In total, there are more than 4 million federal contractors of various types, with the DoD being the single largest contractor. If you’ve been stuck on-base due to COVID-19, ...

Filing a DBA Claim: What Not to Do

Life on military bases comes with its own set of challenges. To accommodate that, there are special protections for personnel and their families. One of these protections is the Defense Base Act (DBA). This act is designed to help cover medical treatment for employees and contractors on military bases. It’s ...

6 Risks Defense Contractor Employees Face On the Job

Did you know more US defense contractor employees have died in Afghanistan than US troops? It’s not hard to believe if you know the dangerous situations contractors often face. Thousands of contractor employees serve overseas in war-torn locations. If you or a loved one works as a contractor employee, it is ...

4 Steps Defense Contractors Must Take to Ensure a Successful Claim

If you have been injured while working on a military base overseas, you are entitled to compensation under the defense base act. In order to get your compensation in a timely manner, it is essential that you follow the correct steps. These steps are not hard, but they must ...

DBA Claims: What Does the Defense Base Act Cover

Defense contracting is a dangerous industry. In 2019, DBA claims rose to 8,447, which is a 26% increase from 2018. Claims in Afghanistan and Iraq made up the majority of those claims. If you employ federal contractors to work on military bases overseas, you may be subject to the Defense ...