Injured Civilian Contractor Employees Injured in Iraq or Anywhere in the World May Receive Benefits Under the Defense Base Act

If you are injured while working as a civilian for a company supporting the U.S. Department of Defense in Iraq, Kuwait or anywhere overseas, you may be entitled to receive Federal workers' compensation benefits under the Defense Base Act (42 U.S. Code § 1651). One of the benefits, established by the U.S. Congress, is to have attorney representation for free. No attorney’s fees come from a worker’s weekly benefits or settlement. They are awarded to the attorney by the U.S. Department of Labor based on his reasonable time spent on the case.

Established in 1941, the primary goal of the Defense Base Act was to cover workers on military bases outside the United States. The act was amended to include public works contracts with the government for the building of non-military projects such as dams, schools, harbors, and roads abroad. A further amendment added a vast array of enterprises revolving around the national security of the United States and its allies. Today, almost any contract with an agency of the U.S. government, for work outside the U.S., whether military in nature or not, will likely require Defense Base Act coverage.

Claims must be filed in the appropriate district office of the United States Department of Labor. The New York District is located in Manhattan near Bagolie Friedman Injury Lawyers. The New York District covers all claims arising in Iraq, Afghanistan as well as all of Central and South American, Europe and Africa.

All consultations are free and confidential.