Which law, enacted in 1908, governs railroad workers' compensation claims?

Which law, enacted in 1908, governs railroad workers' compensation claims?

• A. USL&H Act
• B. Jones Act
• C. Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA)
• D. Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that this law creates a fault-based civil remedy for railroad workers who are injured on the job. Enacted in 1908, the Federal Employers' Liability Act allows a worker to sue the railroad employer when the injury results from the employer’s negligence. It's different from a typical no-fault workers’ compensation system because benefits are not fixed by a schedule; instead, the worker must prove negligence, and damages are determined in court, including medical costs, lost wages, and often non-economic damages like pain and suffering. This negligence standard and the civil-claims framework specifically apply to railroad workers, which is why this act governs their claims. The other laws listed cover maritime or longshore workers and seamen and were enacted in different years, so they do not apply to railroad injuries.

The key idea is that this law creates a fault-based civil remedy for railroad workers who are injured on the job. Enacted in 1908, the Federal Employers' Liability Act allows a worker to sue the railroad employer when the injury results from the employer’s negligence. It's different from a typical no-fault workers’ compensation system because benefits are not fixed by a schedule; instead, the worker must prove negligence, and damages are determined in court, including medical costs, lost wages, and often non-economic damages like pain and suffering. This negligence standard and the civil-claims framework specifically apply to railroad workers, which is why this act governs their claims. The other laws listed cover maritime or longshore workers and seamen and were enacted in different years, so they do not apply to railroad injuries.