To file a claim under the DBA yourself, you generally must notify your employer of your injury within 30 days of the event and submit a written claim to the OWCP within one year of the date of injury. However, if your injury is psychological, you are not held to these deadlines. Don't worry if you failed to meet these notice requirements. A Defense Base Act attorney may be able to still file your claim and have your injuries deemed compensable. Many DBA claims are actually filed by the employer without an employee's knowledge. The Department of Labor requires an employer to file an Employer's First Report of Injury Form LS-202, within 10 days of the injury if it causes loss of one or more work shifts. When this occurs, an employee does not need to make contact with their employer or submit a claim themselves