Have you had an injury abroad? You’re not alone.

An overseas injury can be a headache. You have to worry about expensive medical fees, insurance, and getting the coverage you deserve. This is especially true if your employer isn’t an American company.

If you’ve been injured overseas, you just might be eligible for defense base act compensation. A defense base act lawyer can help you understand your rights and get you the settlement you deserve.

But what is the Defense Base Act? How does it apply to you? We’re here to help you understand the in’s and out’s of this law.

What is the Defense Base Act?

The Defense Base Act has been providing American citizens with medical coverage for over 70 years.

This law provides civilian employees working outside the U.S. with compensation protection. Under the Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation, this law gives medical benefits to employees working for defense contractors.

The Defense Base Act originally applied to only workers on official U.S. military bases. However, coverage has expanded in recent years to encompass many more workers abroad.

Contractors and subcontractors working in dangerous areas like Afghanistan and Kuwait can make a claim under the Defense Base Act. This has helped thousands of Americans get workers’ compensation coverage outside of the United States. In fact, there have been over 55,000 claims in Iraq alone since 2001.

Who Has Coverage?

You might think that you aren’t eligible for Defense Base Act coverage. However, this law has expanded in recent years to provide coverage to thousands of workers.

Under current law, the Defense Base Act provides coverage to virtually all types of service contracts. This includes people working under contractors that don’t necessarily provide manual labor.

Any company working with a U.S. contract abroad must provide workers with this form of coverage. Typically, people making claims are in areas of the Middle East like Iraq and Afghanistan.

But workers in areas where the U.S. maintains a military presence are also eligible. This includes countries like Japan, Russia, Korea, Germany, and many more.

Why Call a Defense Base Act Lawyer?

Making an international personal injury claim can be an intimidating experience. A Defense Base Act Lawyer can eliminate the heavy lifting and make sure you get the settlement you deserve.

These lawyers are well versed in the unique laws surrounding the Defense Base Act. For example, this law goes beyond the common scope of workers’ compensation.

You should be able to seek compensation at any point during your employment. Your coverage includes any non-work related injury. That means car accidents, slip and falls, and exercise-related injuries are all covered.

A Defense Base Act Lawyer can also help you make a claim once you’ve returned to the United States. You may be able to get a settlement for long-term ailments like PTSD with the help of a lawyer.

Your Injury Abroad

Have you been injured abroad? Call before it’s too late.

Our team will help you aggressively pursue your Defense Base Act legal issues. Speak with our skilled attorney with a free consultation today!