Defense Base Act Claim Process
Step 1: Report Your Injury Or Illness
The first step in processing a Defense Base Act (DBA) claim is to report your injury or illness to your employer as soon as possible. This means that as soon as you are aware that you have been injured or have become ill as a result of your work on a U.S. government contract outside the United States, you should inform your employer. This is crucial because it starts the process of getting the benefits you are entitled to under the DBA. It’s important to report the injury or illness as soon as possible to avoid any delay in getting the benefits.
Step 2: Obtain medical treatment
The second step in processing a Defense Base Act (DBA) claim is to obtain medical treatment for your injury or illness. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to ensure that your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated, and to have documentation of the treatment. In some cases, an injury or illness may not be immediately apparent, so it is important to be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. It’s also important to keep all the medical records, receipts, and wage statements that are related to the injury or illness as they will be necessary to support your claim. Make sure to keep a copy of all the documents in your own file and provide copies to your employer and the DBA insurance carrier.
Step 3: Notify your employer
Notifying your employer of your injury or illness and requesting that they file a claim with their Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance carrier is an important step in the DBA claim process. This initiates the process of getting the benefits you are entitled to under the DBA. It’s important to maintain regular communication with your employer and the insurance carrier throughout the process.
