Guam Defense Base Act Lawyers — HellaHurt

Injured as a civilian contractor on a Guam military base or U.S. government contract? The Defense Base Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1651–1654) is a federal workers'-compensation law — not a Guam territorial statute — that provides no-fault benefits regardless of who was at fault. HellaHurt's attorneys handle DBA claims throughout Guam. Free case evaluation. No fees unless we win. Call (800) 671-5949.

What to Do After a Defense Base Act Injury

Seek immediate medical care: Go to Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) in Tamuning or Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) in Dededo. Medical records are critical to your DBA claim.
Notify your employer within 30 days: Written notice of the injury to your employer is required within 30 days. Missing this deadline can jeopardize your claim.
Do not sign anything: Do not sign any release, settlement agreement, or waiver without consulting an attorney first.
File your DBA claim with the DOL within 1 year: Your formal claim for compensation must be filed with the U.S. Department of Labor (Office of Workers' Compensation Programs) within 1 year of the injury.
Consider a third-party claim: If someone other than your employer caused the injury, you may also have a separate negligence lawsuit against that third party.
Contact HellaHurt: Call (800) 671-5949 for a free case evaluation.

Defense Base Act Law: What Injured Contractors Need to Know

The Defense Base Act is federal workers'-compensation law (42 U.S.C. §§ 1651–1654), not a Guam territorial statute. The rules are fundamentally different from ordinary Guam personal-injury law:

No-fault benefits: Unlike a personal-injury lawsuit, a DBA claim does not require proving your employer was negligent. Benefits are generally available regardless of fault.
No comparative-fault analysis: There is no percentage-of-fault analysis of the kind used in ordinary Guam tort cases. Your own negligence does not reduce or bar your DBA benefits.
Administrative process: DBA claims are filed with the U.S. Department of Labor (Office of Workers' Compensation Programs), not a Guam court.
Key deadlines (33 U.S.C. §§ 912–913, incorporated via the DBA): Notice to employer within 30 days; formal claim with DOL within 1 year. These are shorter than Guam's general 2-year tort deadline.
Third-party claims: If someone other than your employer caused the injury, an ordinary negligence lawsuit against that third party may be possible alongside the DBA claim.

Benefits Available Under the Defense Base Act

Medical treatment: All reasonable and necessary medical care for the work injury
Disability compensation: Based on lost wage-earning capacity — temporary total, temporary partial, permanent total, or permanent partial disability
Death benefits: Compensation to eligible survivors if the injury results in death
Vocational rehabilitation: Retraining and job placement assistance if you cannot return to your prior work

Frequently Asked Questions — Defense Base Act Claims in Guam

What is the Defense Base Act?

The Defense Base Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1651–1654) is a federal workers'-compensation law covering civilian employees working on U.S. military bases and certain government contracts overseas and on Guam. It extends the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) to these workers.

How long do I have to file a Defense Base Act claim?

Notify your employer within 30 days of the injury. File your formal DBA claim with the U.S. Department of Labor within 1 year of the injury (33 U.S.C. §§ 912–913, incorporated via the DBA). These federal deadlines are shorter than Guam's general 2-year tort deadline — don't assume you have more time.

Do I need to prove my employer was at fault?

No. The Defense Base Act is a no-fault workers'-compensation system. Benefits are generally available regardless of fault. There is no comparative-fault analysis of the kind used in ordinary Guam tort cases.

Can I also sue a third party?

Yes. If someone other than your employer caused the injury, an ordinary negligence lawsuit against that third party may be possible alongside your DBA claim. That separate lawsuit would follow ordinary tort rules, including whatever comparative-fault and statute-of-limitations rules apply.

How much does it cost to hire a Defense Base Act lawyer?

HellaHurt works on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. No upfront costs, no hourly fees, no out-of-pocket expenses.

Why Choose HellaHurt for Your Defense Base Act Case?

Licensed Guam attorney: Morgan D. Ross (CA Bar #270650) is licensed in both California and Guam and handles DBA and federal claims throughout the island
Federal claim expertise: Experienced in Defense Base Act, Jones Act, FTCA, and standard Guam personal injury claims
Free AI-powered case evaluation: Get answers in minutes with our free AI Case Check
No fees unless we win: Contingency fee representation — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation

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Defense Base Act claims are time-sensitive — the 30-day employer notice deadline can sneak up quickly. Contact HellaHurt as soon as possible after your injury.