Filing a Defense Base Act claim as a government contractor

The Defense Base Act, or DBA, provides insurance coverage. This is similar to workers’ compensation, for those working under foreign government contracts. It operates to protect the rights of workers suffering from an injury while working on a government contract. This also applies to those who have died while on a government contract.

Government contractors receiving an injury in the line of work can make use of the DBA. 

Government contractors should report injuries immediately

To discuss your DBA case with a knowledgeable attorney, you must follow the appropriate process from beginning to end.  

First, you must inform your supervisor of the incident as soon as you can. This is the first step in cementing a DBA claim. Usually, you will need to fill in forms to formally notify your supervisor. Simply telling them verbally is not sufficient alone for a claim. 

Then, once your employer has received the proper paperwork, they should take certain steps. The form creates a paper trail. It can help prove to the decision-makers that your injury is genuine and is deserving of compensation.

If you’re going to make a claim, you need a solid case to convince insurance companies. A lawyer can help you to build a convincing case. 

Seek immediate care

To build a solid case, you need to create a paper trail. This is in order to prove that you took the appropriate steps necessary to treat the injury. Opting not to seek treatment leads the insurance company to claim that you deliberately failed to seek or refused treatment. This will be important, as it will harm your chances at getting more compensation. 

After notifying your supervisor about the accident, you should then ask for authorization to visit a doctor of your choice. This means you can find a doctor who is not under affiliation with your employer or the insurance investigation. 

Of course, a physician must treat you either way. However, be wary of who you choose. There is the potential risk that they have a connection to the investigation or your employer. For example, they can downplay the extent of your injuries to deliberately reduce the monetary payout from the insurance company

if they have a connection to the DBA investigation or your employer, there is a risk that they may downplay the extent of your injuries in order to reduce the amount of money that your insurance company will have to payout. 

Get medical care, and get a paper trail. 

Record everything

You will need a paper trail at every stage of the process. Keep your own records of everything that happens to help your attorney build a solid case. 

Make sure you get copies of incident reports, medical records, and clinical records. Save any correspondence, such as letters and emails, related to your claim. 

Remember that all communications about your claim should be with your attorney. They know how to maximize the DBA claim. Additionally, they can make sure that you don’t accidentally jeopardize your own case by saying or doing the wrong thing.

Keep in close contact with your lawyer throughout your claim. Listen to their advice. Allow them to take the lead so that you can get the most out of your case.