Important Considerations when Hiring a Defense Base Act Lawyer
Defense Base Act (DBA) workers work closely with the U.S. military all over the world and therefore they have one of the most dangerous jobs. Many things can happen while employed by a contractor which can result in serious injuries and even death. If an event takes place where you are seriously injured, it can be a very devastating experience. There are not only concerns about your physical and mental recovery, but you may also worry about your future if you are unable to return to work overseas and earn the lucrative income you and your family depend on. In this situation it is vital that you seek the services of a Defense Base Act attorney.
It is important to be aware that you may not receive the compensation or medical benefits you deserve, despite having suffered an injury while employed as a Defense Base Act worker, and being disabled as a result. Defense Base Act employers are able to “controvert” claims and refuse to pay them with very little risk unless you are represented by and experienced Defense Base Act attorney. DBA lawyers thrive on claims which have been controverted, or where compensation is being underpaid because they know how to make it too painful for the employers and insurers to try and cheat you. For this reason, it is essential that you understand why you should hire a Defense Base lawyer.
When looking for a DBA lawyer, you need to make sure the lawyer is experienced in this area of the law. The lawyer you hire should have experience handling Defense Base Act claims and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) claims. These LHWCA lawyers understand this area of the law, the details of the Acts, and they understand the tactics and strategies of the attorneys representing the insurance company. A regular workers compensation lawyer will be unable to effectively represent you because he or she won’t know the law well enough, and won’t have the experience to beat the employers, their insurance companies, and their hired gun defense lawyers at their own game.
A qualified DBA lawyer should have plenty of experience litigating DBA or LHWCA claims. If an employer or its insurance company won’t voluntarily provide compensation, the only way to force them to is to take your case to trial. Your lawyer needs to be willing and able to do that for you. You should also hire a lawyer that will keep you updated on your case and is willing to answer all of your questions throughout the litigation process. As well, it is important to make sure that an experienced DBA lawyer will be representing you at the trial, not a first year associate in the firm.
Not only do you need to hire a lawyer that understands this area of the law, but also has experience with personal injury cases. That is, a lawyer who has experience with cases that involve personal injury resulting from the negligence of a third party. This type of lawyer will be able to determine if you should receive additional compensation if your injury was the result of the negligence of another party.
When you have the knowledge about what to look for when hiring a DBA attorney, you will have a much less stressful time in the event you suffer a serious injury while working as a Defense Base Act worker.
