Military Contractors' Compensation Program

Maryland Attorneys Helping Government and Military Contractors Apply for DBA Benefits

Serving Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia

Just as there are U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all over the world, government and military contractors also serve globally. There are programs for military personnel who have been hurt during active duty, but many government contractors do not realize that there are also workers' compensation benefits available to them if they are injured while working on a U.S. military installation abroad.

If you are a military or government contractor who was hurt on military business, you are covered under an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers Act called the Defense Base Act, which is a workers' compensation program especially for government and military contractors.

The Rockville, Maryland law firm of Dobbs & Baker helps civilian contractors access benefits through this military contractors' workers' compensation program. Our attorneys have extensive experience helping injured workers in complex and specialized cases like these.

If you have questions about how to claim benefits for a work-related injury on a U.S. military base, contact our office in Rockville and schedule a free consultation with an experienced lawyer.

Your Rights Under the Defense Base Act

Military contractors' workers' compensation benefits through the Defense Base Act are paid by your employer's insurance company and overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). Both U.S. citizens and non-citizen contractors are covered by the program.

Eligible contractors include:

• People injured while working for private employers on U.S. military bases or installations in other countries or in U.S. territories or possessions
• People hurt while employed on a public work contract outside the U.S. in connection with national defense or war activities, regardless of which U.S. government agency contracted the work
• Those injured while working on Foreign Assistance Act contracts outside the U.S.
• Employees of American employers hurt while providing services for the benefit of the Armed Forces (for example, the USO) outside the U.S.

If you file a claim, any hearings or benefits disputes are handled by the OWCP. Appeals of claims denied at the OWCP level can be referred to the Office of Administrative Law Judges for a formal hearing, and further appeals can be taken to the Benefits Review Board, the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The Military Contractors Workers' Compensation Benefits Program

Our attorneys are intimately familiar with how the DBA benefits program operates and how it is different from state-administered workers' compensation programs within the U.S. The process has strict requirements and time lines that must be followed in order to have a successful petition for benefits. Having a lawyer who is well-versed in military contractor workers' compensation will give you the peace of mind of knowing your claim is being handled properly.

If your claim has been denied by your employer, we can appeal your case to the OWCP claims examiner, the OALJ, the Benefits Review Board, and the federal courts, if necessary. In successful appeals, claimants are often awarded attorneys' fees for the appeal.

Whether you were injured on a military base in Kuwait or on a construction project in Iraq, you have a right to apply for military contractors' workers' compensation under the Defense Base Act. To get started, contact us today to set up a free consultation at our office in Rockville, Maryland.