If you’re suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to incidents you endured while serving overseas for the United States, know that you are not alone.
PTSD is a severe psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 3.5% of U.S. adults each year. And while dealing with PTSD is never easy, there are ways to help you work toward recovery.
Defense Base Act PTSD settlements can provide qualifying individuals with valuable compensation to help them move forward with their lives after returning from overseas service.
At Grossman Attorneys at Law, our experienced and compassionate team of skilled professionals is committed to helping our clients recover.
Want to learn more about Defense Base Act PTSD settlements generally and what your particular PTSD settlement might be worth? Contact our team of Defense Base Act legal experts to discuss your case and see what options you may have.
What Is the Defense Base Act?
The Defense Base Act (DBA) provides medical benefits and disability compensation to eligible civilian employees who work on military bases or who are under contract with the U.S. government for public works or national defense.
Importantly, however, such employees must be working outside the United States. More specifically, the DBA covers employment activities such as:
- Working for the benefit of the Armed Forces for American employers providing welfare or similar services;
- Performing public contracts with any U.S. government agency in connection with national defense or war activities, including service and construction contracts;
- Working for private employers located on American military bases or on any lands used by the US for military purposes outside of the country; and
- Working on contracts funded and approved by the US under the Foreign Assistance Act. These contracts usually are for the sale of military services to allies, as well as military equipment and materials.
Importantly, the DBA covers all employees engaged in the activities listed above, regardless of their nationality.
If you’re covered by the DBA, you can receive disability and medical benefits for injuries you received in the course of your employment. Additionally, if DBA applied to your family member who died in the course of their employment, you could receive death benefits.
Defense Base Act PTSD Settlements: An Overview
Defense Base Act claims can be complex and confusing. If you’ve never dealt with the DBA settlement process before, you may not know where to begin.
That’s why we’re here to help simplify the process and make this as easy for you as possible.
Here are a few important things to know when it comes to Defense Base Act PTSD settlements.
Is There an Average Defense Base Act PTSD Settlement Amount?
Unfortunately, there is no “average” settlement amount that you can expect to receive in a given DBA claim case. This is because, at the end of the day, no two cases are the same.
Nevertheless, an experienced attorney who is well versed in DBA claims will have a better understanding of the various facts and circumstances that could impact your potential settlement.
At Grossman Attorneys at Law, we’ve helped many people just like you as they fight for the compensation they need and deserve. Visit our website to see just a few of the many successful outcomes we’ve obtained for our clients.
Of course, we can never guarantee the same or similar results in any given case. However, what we can guarantee is that when you hire our team of attorneys, we will fight zealously for your rights throughout the entirety of your case.
Factors That Might Impact Your DBA PTSD Settlement
While there is no average DBA PTSD settlement amount, there are certain factors you can look at to help determine what you claim might be worth. For example, the size of your DBA settlement will depend on multiple factors, including:
- The severity of the injury you suffered;
- The wages you were earning at the time of the injury;
- The average earnings of workers in similar situations;
- Medical expenses that require reimbursement;
- Mental health expenses such as treatment for PTSD;
- Future medical expenses associated with the injury; and
- Reduced earning capacity due to total or partial disability.
However, it’s important to note that even if you agree to a settlement, the DLHWC must first approve the settlement and issue a Compensation Order for you to receive the compensation.
Do I Need an Attorney to Assist with My PTSD Settlement?
There is no legal requirement stating that you must have an attorney for your DBA claim. Nevertheless, in most cases, it is strongly recommended that you obtain legal representation to help you through the process.
In fact, one of the best things you can do to maximize your DBA PTSD settlement is to hire legal counsel. A knowledgeable DBA attorney can help you:
- Evaluate the amount of compensation you may be able to recover through your potential DBA claim;
- File your claim by submitting the required documentation;
- Negotiate a favorable settlement; and
- Take your case to trial if and when a reasonable settlement is not possible.
Without an attorney to look out for their interests, PTSD victims are often persuaded to settle for an amount that is less than what they may otherwise be entitled to recover. Thus, in most cases, you should not accept the first PTSD settlement offer you receive without first discussing the offer with an experienced attorney.
Learn More About Your DBA PTSD Settlement Today
At Grossman Law, we know how difficult it can be for our clients who are dealing with PTSD in the aftermath of serving overseas. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to provide these same clients with the legal representation they need and deserve.
If you’re ready to learn more about your rights and opportunities for recovery through a DBA PTSD settlement, we’re ready to help. Contact our team today for a free consultation to discuss your case and see what our attorneys can do for you.
