Fort Lauderdale, Florida Defense Base Act Injury Lawyer

Our lawyers at Attorneys Jo Ann Hoffman and Associates, P.A. have over 95 years of combined experience representing people whose personal injuries are covered under the Defense Base Act. The Defense Base Act is a specific set of Federal laws that have been in place since 1941. These laws establish a special workers' compensation program that provides for medical treatment and lost wages for people injured while working at United States military bases overseas. The Defense Base Act applies to overseas employment for individuals helping various branches of the United States Military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. "Overseas" means outside of the fifty States, including United States territories and possessions. For example, the Defense Base Act would not apply to injuries in Florida but would apply to injuries in Puerto Rico.

Did you know that you do not even have to be a United States citizen for the Defense Base Act to apply to you? You merely have to have been injured during the course of your employment aiding the United States Government or troops in some fashion overseas. Additionally, you do not have to be a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida for Attorneys Jo Ann Hoffman and Associates, P.A. to be able to represent you. Because the Defense Base Act applies to injuries that occur overseas, we are able to represent you regardless of where you live in the world. If you require a translator for your consultation with us, please let us know and we will secure a translator for you.

If you are an employee for an overseas United States military base but are uncertain as to what types of injury situations would be covered under the Defense Base Act, the following are a few examples:

1. If you are injured while working for a private employer at an overseas United States military base or on any overseas land used by the United States for military purposes.

2. If you are injured while performing work associated with a public works contract with any United States government agency. Such public works contracts include construction contracts and service contracts concerning national defense and wartime activities performed overseas.

3. If you are injured while performing work overseas associated with a contract that has been approved and funded by the United States under the Foreign Assistance Act. The Foreign Assistance Act relates to cash sales of military equipment, materials and services to allies of the United States Government.

4. If you are injured while performing work for an American employer who provides overseas public welfare services on behalf of the United States Military. Examples of such public welfare organizations include the United Service Organizations, the American Red Cross, and The Salvation Army.

5. If you are injured as an employee of any subcontractor working for a contractor in any of the above situations.

Of course, the above examples of overseas injury situations are not necessarily all-inclusive. Additionally, if a close relative of yours has unfortunately died as a result of any of these types of situations, dependents such as a spouse and/or children may qualify for certain death benefits under the Defense Base Act. If you have a question about an injury you have suffered or the death of a loved one that occurred while working overseas for the United States Military, please call our lawyers at Attorneys Jo Ann Hoffman and Associates, P.A. at (954) 772-2644 today. We make it our goal to answer your questions promptly. Please be aware that Defense Base Act claims can be complicated and are time-sensitive. We therefore strongly recommend that you file Form LS-201, Notice of Employee's Injury or Death (please carefully follow the instructions on the form), with the employer immediately after your injury or the death of a loved one. Please know that you can contact our law office to discuss your legal rights and options.

Do you think you have a Defense Base Act claim? If so, please complete our CONTACT US form and email it to our office. Please remember that we accept all of our cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we never charge you any fees or costs unless we recover monies from the defendants or their insurance companies. Additionally, our consultations are always free. We await your call and look forward to representing you.

For more Defense Base Act injury information, please visit our Defense Base Act Lawyers Blog.