Suisman Shaprio | Attorneys At Law
Suisman Shaprio | Attorneys At Law
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The Defense Base Act

INJURIES OVERSEAS AT U.S. DEFENSE BASES

The Defense Base Act provides workers’ compensation protection to civilian employees working outside the United States on U.S. military bases or under a contract with the U.S. government for public works or for national defense. The Act is very liberal in terms of what types of activities are covered and the benefits available. If a defense contractor employee is injured overseas, the injury is covered.

For instance, a rigger from Electric Boat suffered a heart attack on his day off. The injury was deemed compensable and his widow was paid benefits. A worker drowned in South Korea on his day off, and that was deemed compensable. In Vietnam, an employee was electrocuted by plugging in a radio and that was also covered.

Defense Base claims are filed and administered through the Workers’ Compensation system under the Longshore Harbor and Workers Compensation Act. The benefits, like the coverage, are very liberal. We have successfully handled claims arising in Holy Loch, Scotland; Rota, Spain; Guam; Vietnam; Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

INJURIES TO NON-APPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES

These civilian employees typically work on military bases at the Commissary, the PX, a gas station, pool room, gym, etc. Their claims are filed and administered in the federal workers’ compensation system under the Longshore Act just like shipyard workers. We have handled claims arising at the U.S. Submarine Base, the Coast Guard Academy and the Underwater Sound Lab in New London.

Connecticut Workers Compensation lawyers at Suisman Shapiro in New London assist clients from New London County, Windham County and Middlesex County including the communities of: New London, Norwich, Waterford, Groton, East Lyme, Stonington/North Stonington, Lyme/Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Ledyard and Montville with Workman’s Comp claims and SSDI claims and appeals. We also handle other personal injury and wrongful death claims.

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