Defense Base Act Lawyer for Contractors Injured in Kuwait
By Tim Nies, Army Ranger Veteran and DBA Lawyer Representing Injured U.S. Government Contractors Worldwide
Civilian contractors play a vital role in supporting U.S. military and government operations overseas. In locations such as Kuwait, contractors work in security, logistics, aviation, construction, engineering, and technical support. When a contractor is injured while working overseas, the Defense Base Act (DBA) provides critical federal workers’ compensation benefits.
Attorney Tim Nies, a US Army Ranger Veteran and DBA Lawyer, represents injured contractors worldwide under the Defense Base Act, including contractors injured while working in Kuwait. Our firm understands the legal complexities of DBA claims and the realities of overseas contractor work. We are proud to be a veteran-owned DBA law firm. Contact Tim for free is you are looking for a Defense Base Act lawyer for contractors injured in Kuwait.
What Is the Defense Base Act?
The Defense Base Act is a federal law that extends workers’ compensation coverage to civilian employees working outside the United States on U.S. government contracts. The DBA incorporates the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and provides no-fault benefits to injured contractors.
The Defense Base Act generally applies to contractors and subcontractors who are:
- Working overseas on U.S. military bases or installations
- Supporting U.S. government or Department of Defense contracts
- Employed in public works, reconstruction, logistics, or security operations
- Performing work necessary to U.S. national defense or foreign policy
For contractors injured in Kuwait, the Defense Base Act is often the exclusive legal remedy against the employer.
DBA Coverage for Contractors Working in Kuwait
Kuwait remains a key operational hub for U.S. military and government activities in the Middle East. As a result, Defense Base Act coverage commonly applies to contractors working in Kuwait, including those performing:
- Armed and unarmed security services
- Convoy, transportation, and logistics operations
- Aircraft maintenance, aviation, and pilot services
- Construction, engineering, and base operations
- Medical, technical, communications, and IT services
Coverage may apply whether the injury occurs on a U.S. military base, at an off-base worksite, or during job-related travel within Kuwait.
Defense Base Act Benefits Available to Contractors Injured in Kuwait
Medical Benefits
Under the Defense Base Act, injured contractors are entitled to reasonable and necessary medical care for their work injury. Covered medical benefits include, but not limited to:
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization
- Surgeries and follow-up care
- Diagnostic testing, such as MRIs and CT scans
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Psychiatric care for psychiatric injuries such as PTSD
Importantly, injured contractors are entitled to treat with a physician of their choice.
Disability Compensation for Injuries Sustained in Kuwait
If an injury prevents a contractor from working, the DBA provides wage-replacement benefits, generally calculated at two-thirds of the contractor’s average weekly wage, subject to federal maximums.
Compensation categories include:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
For contractors earning high overseas wages, these benefits can be substantial and long-term.
Death Benefits for Families
If a contractor is killed due to a work-related incident in Kuwait, the Defense Base Act provides death benefits to surviving spouses and dependents, including weekly compensation and funeral expenses.
What Injured Contractors Should Do After an Injury in Kuwait
Report the Injury Immediately
Notify your employer or supervisor as soon as possible (both verbally and in writing). Delays in reporting are commonly used by Defense Base Act insurance carriers to dispute claims.
Seek Prompt Medical Treatment
Obtain immediate medical care abroad (whether with a medic, local clinic, etc) and ensure the injury is documented as work-related. Clear medical records are critical in DBA cases.
Preserve Evidence and Documentation
Injured contractors should keep copies of:
- Incident and accident reports
- Medical records and prescriptions
- Employment contracts and work orders
- Emails or communications with supervisors
- Pay records
These documents often become essential evidence in contested Defense Base Act claims.
Be Cautious with DBA Insurance Carriers
Defense Base Act insurance companies and third-party administrators, such as Gallagher Bassett Services, routinely investigate claims with an eye toward minimizing exposure. Statements made early in the process can later be used to deny or limit benefits. It is best to talk to a DBA lawyer early on and before giving any recorded statement.
Consult an Experienced Defense Base Act Attorney
Defense Base Act law is complex federal law. Contractors injured in Kuwait benefit from working with an attorney experienced in DBA claims, overseas injuries, and disputes with insurance carriers. The best time to contact a DBA lawyer is soon after sustaining an injury and before leaving to return home from Kuwait for medical care. A DBA lawyer will make sure all necessary tasks are completed before you return home, such as properly and timely reporting the injury, advising of the right to choose a physician on your choice, dealing with communications from DBA insurance companies, including recorded statements, preserving evidence, etc. It is important to have a DBA lawyer on your side early on to prepare for situations where the DBA carrier does not authorize compensation and medical care, IMEs, DBA mediations, depositions, surveillance by DBA insurance companies, etc.
Defense Base Act Lawyers Representing Injured Contractors Worldwide
Tim Nies represents injured Defense Base Act contractors worldwide, including contractors injured in Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Africa, Europe, and other overseas locations.
Our DBA firm is veteran-owned, We focus exclusively on protecting injured workers and holding Defense Base Act insurance carriers accountable for providing the benefits the law requires.
Contact Van Riper and Nies Attorneys
Defense Base Act Lawyer – Worldwide Representation
Tim Nies
Van Riper and Nies Attorneys
900 SE Ocean Boulevard, Suite 140-E
Stuart, FL 34994
📞 Tel: 772-283-8712
If you have been injured while working as a contractor in Kuwait, or anywhere overseas, we can help you understand your rights under the Defense Base Act and pursue the full benefits you are owed. If you are searching for a Defense Base Act lawyer for contractors injured in Kuwait, Tim is available for free consultations day or night and regularly speaks to contractors on Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp, etc.