Top Rated New Mexico Defense Base Act Law Firm – Grossman Attorneys
If you were injured while working overseas for a New Mexico defense contractor like Lockheed Martin, Sandia National Laboratories, or Northrop Grumman, the Defense Base Act covers your claim. This federal workers’ compensation program protects civilian employees serving abroad, but insurance companies routinely deny valid claims or downplay serious injuries. You need an experienced Defense Base Act lawyer to fight for the benefits you’ve earned.
Grossman Attorneys at Law has spent decades helping overseas contractors secure full compensation. We know how to negotiate aggressively with insurers and overcome wrongful denials. Because DBA law requires insurance companies to pay our legal fees, our services cost you nothing out of pocket.
You’ve already sacrificed enough serving abroad. Let us handle the legal battle while you focus on recovery. Call today for your free consultation.
What is the Defense Base Act?
The Defense Base Act stands between injured overseas contractors and financial ruin when workplace accidents occur on U.S. military installations or government projects abroad. This federal workers’ compensation law protects you when traditional state systems can’t reach beyond American borders.
Understanding the law’s jurisdictional scope helps you recognize your rights:
- Historical origins trace to 1941, extending Longshore protections to defense contractors
- Coverage applies to U.S. military bases worldwide, including combat zones
- Protection extends to civilian employees supporting government operations abroad
- Benefits include medical treatment, disability compensation, and vocational rehabilitation
Your employer must carry DBA insurance when deploying you overseas. Enacted in 1941 and administered by the Department of Labor, the Act extends the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act to civilian contractors working on U.S. defense bases and related public works overseas. Employers and subcontractors are responsible for securing required DBA coverage, and many use single-source programs to procure policies efficiently.
DBA Insurance Coverage for Overseas Contractors from New Mexico
New Mexico contractors injured while working overseas are typically covered by their employer’s Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance policy. This specialized workers’ compensation insurance is federally mandated under the Defense Base Act of 1941 for companies employing U.S. workers on military bases, embassy projects, and government contracts outside the United States. For official guidance on coverage, insurance requirements, waivers, and claims, the Department of Labor maintains a comprehensive Defense Base Act hub with resources for workers and employers.
Your coverage depends on the type of work you performed and your employer’s contract with the U.S. government, not on where you lived before deployment.
Employers must maintain DBA coverage and comply with posting obligations, filing procedures, and potential waiver rules outlined in the DBA requirements.
Types of Employment Covered Under DBA Insurance
Whether you worked as a security specialist, translator, construction supervisor, or communications technician overseas, your job likely falls under Defense Base Act coverage if you supported U.S. military or government operations abroad.
DBA insurance applies to diverse employment categories:
– In addition to on-duty incidents, the doctrine may cover certain off-duty injuries through the Zone of Special Danger, recognizing the unique risks tied to overseas postings.
- Direct service providers including security personnel, translators, and medical staff working on military installations
- Construction and infrastructure workers building or maintaining base facilities and government projects
- Remote contractors providing technical support, communications, or logistical services from distant locations
- Contract supervisors overseeing operations, managing teams, or coordinating project delivery
Your employment contract determines coverage eligibility, not your specific job title. In many cases, coverage extends to transportation to and from qualifying worksites when funded by the employer or the U.S. government, reflecting the DBA’s no-fault workers’ compensation protections.
How Our New Mexico DBA Claim Attorneys Can Help
When you’re recovering from an overseas injury and facing resistance from insurance carriers, you need aggressive legal representation that understands both federal DBA law and New Mexico’s unique contractor landscape. Our team helps you secure essential medical benefits and disability compensation so you can focus on healing while we handle the legal battle.
Our attorneys don’t just file paperwork—we build thorough cases designed to withstand insurance company challenges and achieve full compensation through settlement or trial.
Here’s how we protect your rights and maximize your recovery at every stage of your DBA claim.
We guide you through the complex DBA claims process, ensuring deadlines are met, evidence is gathered, and communications with insurers protect your rights.
Gather and Preserve Critical Evidence
Building a compelling Defense Base Act claim requires more than just reporting an injury. You need documented proof connecting your condition to your overseas work.
We’ll immediately secure medical records, incident reports, and witness statements from coworkers who observed your injury or deteriorating health. We’ll photograph your workplace conditions and obtain employment contracts proving your DBA coverage. We also track deadlines because the DBA imposes strict statute of limitations rules for disability compensation that can affect your benefits.
Our team understands how evidence disappears when contractors demobilize or projects end. We’ll establish a solid evidence chain before pivotal documentation becomes unavailable.
Preserving this proof early strengthens your claim and prevents insurance carriers from disputing your account later.
Because third-party administrators like Gallagher Bassett often investigate and challenge DBA claims to minimize payouts, early evidence preservation is critical to protect your rights.
Represent You in Hearings and Appeals
If an insurance carrier denies your claim or offers inadequate benefits, you don’t have to accept their decision as final. Our attorneys will represent you in formal proceedings before the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, presenting compelling evidence and expert testimony to support your case.
We’ll develop a thorough hearing strategy tailored to your specific injuries and circumstances. If the initial decision isn’t favorable, we’ll pursue appeals through the Benefits Review Board and federal courts if necessary.
Understanding appeal timelines is critical—missing deadlines can forfeit your rights. We’ll manage every procedural requirement while you focus on recovery.
Maximize Your Compensation
Defense Base Act compensation includes disability payments calculated at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, vocational rehabilitation services when you can’t return to your former position, and scheduled awards for permanent impairments ranging from $2,812.80 to $843,840 depending on the body part affected under the 2024 compensation schedule.
Our attorneys excel at settlement negotiation, leveraging decades of experience to counter lowball offers from insurance carriers.
Through strategic client counseling, we’ll help you understand the full value of your claim, including future medical needs projected over your lifetime and lost earning capacity calculated based on your age, education, and transferable skills.
We won’t pressure you to accept inadequate settlements. Instead, we’ll fight to secure every dollar you deserve under the Act.
Get Results
Each one of our lawyers is a skilled and experienced litigator and negotiator. We never recommend settling your case when trial presents a better opportunity for recovery.
Insurance companies know our reputation. They know we prepare every case for trial and we’ll go the distance when settlement offers fall short. We investigate thoroughly, build bulletproof cases, and aren’t afraid to take yours to court. That changes negotiations from the start.
Anytime. Anywhere. We’re Ready to Fight for You.
U.S. Defense Contractors in New Mexico
New Mexico's defense industry employs approximately 48,000 workers through major contractors who frequently deploy personnel to overseas military installations and government projects.
Companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Honeywell, and Applied Research Associates maintain significant operations in the state and regularly send technical specialists, engineers, IT professionals, and support staff to work on U.S. military bases worldwide.
If you've been injured while working abroad for any of these contractors, you're likely covered under the Defense Base Act regardless of where your injury occurred.
List of Major Defense Contractors in New Mexico
Honeywell
Locations: Albuquerque (Bernalillo County)
Founded: 1906 (operates in New Mexico through Federal Manufacturing & Technologies division)
Website: https://www.honeywell.com
Honeywell leads New Mexico defense spending with $888.5M in contracts focused on nuclear weapons programs and advanced materials manufacturing.
The company's Albuquerque operations support the National Nuclear Security Administration's modernization efforts, producing non-nuclear components for the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Engineers and technicians from this facility deploy to overseas installations for system integration, testing, and maintenance support under Defense Base Act coverage.
These overseas assignments often involve classified work at allied nation facilities and U.S. bases where nuclear-capable systems are stationed. Honeywell personnel may travel to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to provide technical expertise on weapons components, triggering DBA requirements for injury protection.
Fluor Corporation
Locations: Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), Los Alamos (Los Alamos County)
Founded: 1912
Website: https://www.fluor.com
Fluor maintains $275.1M in New Mexico contracts primarily focused on facility engineering and construction management at national security sites.
The company partners with other contractors to design, build, and modernize complex nuclear research and production facilities throughout the state. Fluor project managers and construction specialists regularly deploy overseas to support U.S. military infrastructure projects, forward operating bases, and allied nation defense facilities.
International assignments place Fluor employees under Defense Base Act coverage when working on U.S. government contracts abroad. These deployments span combat zones, logistics hubs, and strategic military installations requiring specialized engineering expertise developed at New Mexico's national laboratories.
TRIAD National Security, LLC
Locations: Los Alamos (Los Alamos County)
Founded: 2018 (formed specifically to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Website: https://www.triadns.org
TRIAD manages Los Alamos National Laboratory under contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration, overseeing research, development, and security operations at one of America's premier weapons laboratories.
The joint venture between Battelle Memorial Institute, Texas A&M University, and the University of California employs thousands of scientists, engineers, and support staff conducting classified nuclear weapons research and stockpile stewardship.
Laboratory personnel frequently deploy to overseas test sites, international collaboration facilities, and military installations to conduct experiments, verify treaty compliance, and provide technical consultation. These missions trigger Defense Base Act coverage when TRIAD employees travel to foreign locations on government contracts, including assignments to allied nations' defense research centers and U.S. military bases worldwide.
Lockheed Martin
Locations: Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), primarily at Kirtland Air Force Base
Founded: 1995 (merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta)
Website: https://www.lockheedmartin.com
Lockheed Martin operates extensive facilities at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, developing and testing advanced weapons systems, directed energy technologies, and space-based platforms.
The company's New Mexico operations support critical programs including hypersonic weapons, missile defense systems, and special operations aircraft modifications. Engineers and technicians regularly deploy from Albuquerque to overseas locations for system installation, testing, training, and operational support.
These international assignments place Lockheed Martin employees under Defense Base Act protection when working at foreign military bases, combat zones, and allied nation facilities. Deployment locations include the Middle East, Pacific theater, Europe, and Africa where U.S. military forces operate advanced systems developed and tested in New Mexico.
Northrop Grumman
Locations: Albuquerque (Bernalillo County), with operations near Kirtland Air Force Base
Founded: 1994 (merger of Northrop and Grumman; predecessor companies date to 1939)
Website: https://www.northropgrumman.com
Northrop Grumman's Albuquerque operations focus on electronic warfare systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and space-based surveillance platforms supporting global military operations.
The company's facilities near Kirtland AFB develop cutting-edge technologies for intelligence gathering, communications jamming, and battlefield awareness. Technical specialists and field service representatives deploy worldwide to integrate these systems into operational environments and provide ongoing maintenance support.
Overseas deployments trigger Defense Base Act coverage when Northrop Grumman employees travel to foreign locations on U.S. government contracts. These assignments span active combat zones in the Middle East, strategic bases throughout the Pacific, NATO facilities in Europe, and emerging theater locations where advanced electronic warfare capabilities provide tactical advantages to U.S. and allied forces.
Types of Injuries Covered by DBA Insurance
When you're hurt overseas, DBA insurance covers more than obvious combat zone physical injuries like blasts, gunfire, vehicle crashes, and falls.
It also covers psychological and mental conditions such as PTSD and anxiety, as well as occupational diseases and illnesses, meaning sickness caused by your work like respiratory problems from burn pits or chemical exposure.
If you're dealing with chronic deployment-related conditions, including chronic pain, traumatic brain injury symptoms, or cumulative stress injuries, you can seek medical care and wage benefits under the DBA.
Combat Zone Physical Injuries
Combat zone injuries represent the most severe category of physical harm covered under Defense Base Act insurance, encompassing wounds sustained during hostile fire, explosions, vehicle attacks, and other violence-related incidents in active war zones.
You're entitled to full medical benefits regardless of injury severity.
Blast injuries from improvised explosive devices frequently cause traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, and hearing loss, with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reporting that approximately 82.3% of combat-related TBI cases during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom resulted from blast mechanisms.
Limb trauma resulting from combat situations often requires amputation, extensive reconstructive surgery, and prosthetic devices.
DBA insurance must cover emergency treatment, evacuation costs, ongoing rehabilitation, and permanent disability compensation for combat-related injuries you've sustained overseas.
Psychological and Mental Conditions
Although physical wounds often receive more immediate attention, psychological and mental health conditions represent an equally significant category of injuries covered under Defense Base Act insurance.
You can file claims for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, and combat stress reactions resulting from your overseas deployment. The DBA also recognizes moral injury, which occurs when you witness or participate in events that violate your deeply held beliefs during deployment.
These conditions often develop gradually and may not surface until after you've returned to New Mexico, but they remain compensable under the Defense Base Act.
Occupational Diseases and Illnesses
Exposure to hazardous substances and hostile environmental conditions during overseas deployment frequently leads to occupational diseases that qualify for Defense Base Act compensation.
Occupational exposures on military installations include burn pit emissions, asbestos in aging infrastructure, toxic chemical compounds, and contaminated water sources. Workplace carcinogens you've encountered at government project sites may cause cancers appearing years after your deployment ended.
Respiratory conditions from dust and particulates, neurological damage from chemical exposure, and infectious diseases contracted through environmental contact all warrant DBA claims.
These conditions often develop gradually, making medical documentation and legal representation essential for establishing the workplace connection necessary for compensation approval.
Chronic Deployment-Related Conditions
Extended deployments to overseas military installations and government project sites create chronic medical conditions that develop over months or years of service.
You may experience deployment fatigue from prolonged shifts in extreme climates or immune dysregulation after extended exposure to toxins at contaminated bases. These conditions often worsen gradually, making it difficult to pinpoint when symptoms began.
The Defense Base Act covers chronic illnesses that result from cumulative exposure or sustained work conditions overseas. Your claim remains valid even if symptoms appeared after returning to New Mexico. Medical documentation connecting your condition to deployment circumstances strengthens your case substantially.
Medical Facilities and Treatment for New Mexico DBA Claimants
Quality medical care is fundamental to both your physical recovery and the success of your Defense Base Act claim after an overseas contractor injury.
When you return to New Mexico, accessing appropriate treatment through facilities like the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque or Presbyterian Healthcare Services locations is critical.
Under the DBA, insurance carriers must authorize and cover all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury. Proper documentation of your medical care creates the evidence needed to support your claim, while timely treatment prevents your condition from worsening.
Understanding your medical rights ensures you receive the care required for recovery while protecting your claim's validity.
Trauma Centers and Medical Facilities in New Mexico
Although your injury happened overseas, getting prompt, high-quality care in New Mexico is critical for your recovery and your Defense Base Act claim. New Mexico's trauma network covers rural trauma needs and coordinates air transport when minutes matter. UNM Hospital in Albuquerque is the only Level I center and receives statewide referrals. Level III centers in Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, and Las Cruces stabilize severe cases and move you quickly if higher care is needed.
UNM Hospital
2211 Lomas Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 272-2111
Located in central Albuquerque, UNM Hospital is New Mexico's only Level I Trauma Center, providing 24/7 access to specialized surgical teams, critical care, and comprehensive rehabilitation support for the most severe injuries.
CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center
455 St. Michaels Dr
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 983-3361
Situated in Santa Fe, CHRISTUS St. Vincent is a Level III Trauma Center that also operates as a certified stroke center and maintains a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program for comprehensive emergency care.
UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center
3001 Broadmoor Blvd NE
Rio Rancho, NM 87144
(505) 994-7000
Located in Rio Rancho north of Albuquerque, UNM SRMC is a Level III Trauma Center with direct Lifeguard air ambulance connections for rapid transfer to higher-level care when needed.
MountainView Regional Medical Center
4311 E Lohman Ave
Las Cruces, NM 88011
(575) 556-7600
Serving southern New Mexico from Las Cruces, MountainView Regional is a Level III Trauma Center with freestanding emergency room capabilities for immediate stabilization and treatment.
Important Medical Rights Under the DBA
Important Medical Rights Under the DBA
Defense Base Act insurance carriers frequently attempt to control your medical treatment by steering you toward their preferred doctors or denying authorization for specialists, but federal law grants you powerful protections that approximately 40% of injured contractors never realize they possess according to Department of Labor case data.
Your critical medical rights include:
- Free choice of physician: You can select any qualified doctor to treat your injuries without carrier approval
- Medical privacy protections: Insurance companies can't force you to sign broad medical releases beyond DBA-related treatment
- Provider choice retention: Even after initial treatment, you maintain the right to change physicians if dissatisfied
- Second opinion access: Carriers must authorize independent medical evaluations when treatment disputes arise
DBA Benefits Available to New Mexico Residents
The Defense Base Act provides thorough benefits that protect you financially and medically after a work-related injury or illness overseas. Understanding what you're entitled to receive helps you evaluate whether the insurance carrier's offer fairly compensates you for your injuries and losses.
New Mexico residents working under DBA coverage can access four main categories of benefits: complete medical care, disability compensation payments, vocational rehabilitation when you can't return to your previous work, and death benefits for families who've lost a loved one.
Medical Treatment and Coverage
Under Defense Base Act coverage, you're entitled to thorough medical treatment for your work-related injury or illness at no cost to you.
The insurance carrier must pay for all reasonable and necessary medical care, including surgeries, physical therapy, mental health services, and prescription coverage. You can select your own physician, though insurers often request evaluations by their chosen doctors.
For New Mexico residents receiving treatment stateside, telehealth access allows you to connect with specialists familiar with deployment-related conditions without extensive travel.
The insurer must also cover medical equipment, diagnostic testing, and ongoing care needed for your recovery.
Disability Compensation Payment Rates
Financial stability becomes critical when injuries prevent you from working, and Defense Base Act disability benefits provide structured compensation based on your average weekly wage before the injury.
The benefits calculation determines payments at two-thirds of your pre-injury wages, with Congress setting maximum rates that adjust annually.
You'll receive temporary total disability payments while unable to work, shifting to permanent disability compensation if your condition warrants long-term wage supplementation. The rate structure accounts for your earning capacity before deployment, ensuring meaningful financial support during recovery.
Proper documentation of your New Mexico employment history maximizes your compensation calculations.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services Available
Defense Base Act benefits provide vocational rehabilitation services to help injured overseas workers return to meaningful employment after contractor work injuries that prevent them from performing their previous job duties.
Eligible workers receive vocational counseling that evaluates transferable skills and identifies suitable alternative careers based on their specific circumstances. These services include professional assessment of physical capabilities, training programs to develop new job skills, and active job placement assistance.
The rehabilitation coordinator works with injured contractors to create a practical return-to-work plan that accounts for medical restrictions while maximizing earning potential in New Mexico's job market.
Death Benefits for Families
The Defense Base Act provides death benefits to surviving family members in New Mexico when a contractor dies from injuries or illness sustained while working overseas on a U.S. government project. These benefits include financial support for eligible dependents, calculated as 66.67% of the deceased worker's average weekly wage.
Surviving spouses receive this compensation until remarriage, while dependent children qualify for benefits until age 18 (or age 23 if enrolled full-time in an accredited educational institution). You'll also receive funeral assistance to cover burial expenses up to $3,000.
Our team provides beneficiary counseling to help you understand your rights under 33 U.S.C. § 909 and navigate the claims process through the Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. We'll guide you through survivor support options and legacy planning to secure your family's financial future during this difficult time.
Statute of Limitations for DBA Claims
Understanding the statute of limitations for Defense Base Act claims is absolutely critical to protecting your rights, as missing these legal deadlines can permanently bar your benefits.
Key DBA Filing Deadlines:
- One-year limit for traumatic injuries, starting from injury date or when you knew the condition was work-related
- Two-year limit for occupational diseases like PTSD or hearing loss
- Accrual nuances apply when diagnosis connects your condition to employment
- Equitable tolling may extend deadlines if your employer paid voluntary benefits or failed to post required notices
Federal DBA deadlines differ from New Mexico state law and require filing Form LS-203 with the Department of Labor.
Contact Our New Mexico Defense Base Act Law Firm Today for Help
If you or a loved one suffered an injury, illness, or psychological condition while working overseas on a U.S. military base or government contract, Grossman Attorneys at Law is ready to help.
Whether you need to file a Defense Base Act claim, your claim has been denied or delayed, or you've received an inadequate settlement offer, our experienced legal team will fight for the full compensation you deserve.
We've successfully represented over 300 contractors injured in conflict zones and on military installations worldwide, and our multilingual staff speaks English, Spanish, Creole, French, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Contact our firm today to speak with a knowledgeable Defense Base Act attorney who understands the unique challenges New Mexico contractors face when pursuing DBA benefits.
*If you hire Grossman Attorneys for your DBA case, you pay no attorney fees for our service. When we win your claim, the employer or its insurer typically pays a DOL-approved attorney’s fee and any case expenses we advanced are reimbursed from the recovery. If we don't win, you pay nothing.