DBA Lawyer Straight Talk
If you are a seriously injured Defense Base Act claimant (meaning you have a Defense Base Act claim) – you need to know the facts of life. Here, we give it too you straight. No sugar added. Just good old fashion truth. If you Google “DBA Lawyer Straight Talk” or “DBA Attorney Straight Talk” you will find dozens of great articles by a DBA Lawyer that will help you win your DBA case.
The DBA Is Wages Driven
The Defense Base Act is a wages driven workers’ compensation scheme. Your temporary disability and your permanent disability benefits are driven by your wages. Generally, the higher your wages the more your temporary and permanent disability benefits will be.
Because of this, the Defense Base Act insurance company will try and calculate your average weekly wage (AWW) as low as possible. In effect, screwing you and your family out of much deserved compensation benefits. Quite literally, taking food off your family’s table. How this plays out in the real world is the DBA insurance company will try and calculate your AWW using both overseas earnings and your State-side earnings. If you are a seriously injured Defense Base Act worker, this is one of the many reasons why you need to hire the best DBA Lawyer you can find.
Earnings For The 52 Weeks Before Your Injury
Most of you know that the Defense Base Act falls under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Or the “Longshore Act” or “LHWCA.” Generally, under the Longshore Act and Defense Base Act a Claimant’s (read: injured worker’s) average weekly wage is determined by their earnings 1 year or 52 weeks before their date of injury. If you have worked overseas as a DBA worker for over a year, this may not be an issue in your Defense Base Act case. However, if you have worked overseas for less than a year than this may be a huge issue in your case. Let’s see why.
Average Weekly Wage For DBA Workers
Truth be told, average weekly wage is probably the most heavily litigated issue under the Longshore Act/ Defense Base Act. And there are special rules for DBA workers’ that don’t apply to Longshore workers.
Under the DBA – in some circumstances – your average weekly wage can be based solely on your overseas earnings. The courts have held that where a DBA worker has a one year contract and is injured before they have completed the one year contract, the injured DBA workers’ AWW can be calculated solely on the overseas earnings.
It’s All About Danger And Risks
The basis for this is the Defense Base Act courts have recognized the danger and risk faced by DBA workers. The reality is DBA employer’s pay higher wages in order to provide incentive for DBA workers to encounter these hazards and risks. When a DBA worker is injured after being enticed to work in a dangerous environment in return for higher wages, it is disingenuous to suggest that his earning capacity should not be calculated based upon the full amount of the earnings lost due to the injury.
Telephonic Emergency Informal Conference
If you aren’t receiving temporary disability benefits or permanent disability benefits at the proper compensation rate you need to request the Defense Base Act insurance carrier provide you benefits at the proper AWW/ compensation rate. Be sure to also ask for retroactive benefits you are owed at the proper compensation rate. As always, you need a proof of service.
If, or rather, when the insurance company doesn’t change your compensation rate – including providing your retroactive benefits at the proper compensation rate – request a Telephonic Emergency Informal Conference with the U.S. Department of Labor. As always when you are communicating with the Department of Labor, be sure to copy the insurance company adjuster and use a proof of service.