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Civilian contractors and subcontractors who’ve sustained injuries while working on U.S. military bases have the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits under the Defense Base Act. Whether your injuries occurred while overseas or in the U.S., filing a DBA claim can be complicated, leaving room for mistakes. Here’s what you need to know to avoid them.
Insufficient Documentation of Injury
The work injury report is extremely critical to the success of a Defense Base Act claim. While it’s the responsibility of your employer to notify the insurance company about your work injury, it’s imperative to follow up to ensure it was correctly filed and compliant with all deadlines. Check to make sure the report has all the required information and documentation included such as:
- Date when the injury occurred
- How the injury occurred
- Part(s) of the body that were injured
- Contact information of a witnesses
If you were injured overseas, getting information from witnesses after returning to the U.S. may be difficult. Being proactive in collecting information by getting all phone numbers and email addresses of witnesses can save a lot of time and headaches.
Speaking to the Insurance Company
It’s essential to keep in mind that the insurance company will try to extract any information from you to deny your claim. Any information that you provide, whether written or verbal, can be used against you in your case. It’s imperative to speak to an experienced Defense Base Act lawyer first before answering any questions from the insurance company.
Not Hiring a Defense Base Act Attorney
Defense Base Act claims are complex. One of the biggest mistakes injured contract employees make is trying to handle their DBA case without legal representation. Lack of understanding the legal process and how insurance companies operate can be extremely detrimental to your case. You have an injury to worry about and attempting to file your own DBA claim can only compound the stress. Consulting a Defense Base Act attorney to assist with your case can increase your chances of a favorable decision.
Contact a Defense Base Act Attorney Today
If you’ve suffered an injury while working on a U.S. military base domestic or overseas, our legal team can help. As a workers’ compensation law firm, we are proud to represent injured contract employees for the government in San Antonio and the rest of the nation.
Contact The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC today at (210) 807-3178 to learn more about how we can help you receive compensation for your injuries under the Defense Base Act.