Defense Base Act Lawyers

At the Law Offices of Gillis, Mermell & Pacheco, P.A., we are dedicated to the representation of injured workers under the Defense Base Act, 42 U.S.C.1651, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 901 et. seq., and the Florida Workers’ Compensation Act, F.S. 440 et.seq.

 

Defense Base Act Injuries

Have you been injured in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere overseas while working for a private company under a contract with the U.S.?  If so, you are most likely covered under the Defense Base Act.   We handle Defense Base Act cases against Halliburton, KBR, DynCorp, Armor Group, Bechtel, Triple Canopy, S.Y. Coleman, Titan, Blackwater, L-3 Communications and any other employer under contract with the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan.  You are entitled to benefits under the Defense Base Act even if your employer is not an American company.  If you are covered by the Defense Base Act, we can help you secure valuable compensation and medical benefits.  We can also help you negotiate a favorable lump sum cash settlement.

Currently, there are thousands of workers who are injured on reconstruction projects in war-torn Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of the Middle East. Due to the region's hostile and dangerous conditions, civilian workers are too often placed in harm's way with high risks of job injuries or even death.  Any company working under contract with the U.S. must provide their employees with benefit coverage under the Defense Base Act for injuries on the job. We can help you figure out your rights.

If you are injured in the course and scope of your employment, you are covered.  However, even if your injury has nothing to do with your employment, you most likely will still be covered under the Defense Base Act if you are considered to be in a “zone of danger.”  In our opinion, anyone working under a contract with the U.S. anywhere in Iraq or Afghanistan would be covered 24 hours per day due to the “zone of danger” rule.  Case law is very liberal in this regard and has afforded coverage to injured workers for a variety of injuries which had nothing to do with their employment.  For example, if you are working in Iraq or Afghanistan and you are done working for the day and you slip and fall in the shower, you would be covered under the Defense Base Act. 

The US government continues to hire American companies to build Embassies and other US government buildings overseas in countries such as England, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. The US military maintains forces in Kuwait, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Panama, Turkey, Hungary, Spain, Kosovo, Saudi Arabia, Guam and other foreign countries. As a consequence, any civilian workers hired to aid the US government's mission abroad will be covered under the Defense Base Act.

 

Injured in Iraq, Afghanistan or Any Other Country?

If you have had a personal injury in Iraq or a personal injury in Afghanistan while working for a contractor on behalf of the U.S. government, you are covered under the Defense Base Act. We will ensure that you receive the compensation and medical care you deserve, and we will collect no fee for our services unless we secure benefits or a settlement for you.  Therefore, anyone can afford to hire a lawyer in a Defense Base Act case.  Call us today for a free consultation.

Our team of experienced and qualified lawyers and paralegals can handle your case under the Defense Base Act no matter where you were injured and no matter where you live. We have handled Defense Base Act cases for our clients who live in Australia, England, Ireland, Macedonia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and every state of the United States of America. We are already representing injured workers in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Virginia, Nevada, California, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida.

The Defense Base Act is an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. We have more than 35 years of combined experience in handling Longshoremans' claims out of the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Port of Palm beach and Port of Jacksonville. We have handled all types of injuries, and we have handled these longshoremen cases at every level, from the administrative level before the O.W.C.P. (Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs), through trial before an A.L.J. (Administrative Law Judge), and through appeal to the B.R.B. (Benefits Review Board) and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

We know the Defense Base Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and we have filed more than 2,000 claims on behalf of injured workers under these laws. We have obtained very favorable rulings and advantageous settlements for our clients.  Please check our Workers' Compensation Settlements & Verdicts page for a few of the excellent results we have obtained for our clients under the Defense Base Act and/or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

If you are a civilian who has been injured in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, South America, Puerto Rico or anywhere overseas where the U.S. has a military defense base or while working to aid in the mission of the U.S. government, we can help you get fair compensation, medical care and a favorable lump sum cash settlement for your injuries under the Defense Base Act.

Contact us today to schedule a free confidential consultation with our Defense Base Act Lawyers. Our dedicated staff will provide you with the attention and consideration that you deserve in your time of need. We will devote ourselves to protecting your interests and obtaining the maximum benefits that your case merits.

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