What does the Federal Employers Liability Act allow railroad workers to do?

The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), enacted in 1908, provides specific legal rights to railroad workers who are injured on the job. It allows these workers to file lawsuits against their employers if they can prove that the employer's negligence played a role in their injury. This is a crucial distinction since it moves away from the standard workers' compensation framework, which typically provides benefits regardless of fault. Under FELA, workers have the right to seek damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs, provided they can demonstrate that negligence is a contributing factor to their injuries.

The other options do not capture the essence of what FELA allows. For instance, workers' compensation that is granted automatically or through a no-fault system is not part of FELA. Furthermore, while vocational retraining and benefits tied to accident severity might be available through workers' compensation systems or other programs, FELA specifically grants the right to sue based on employer negligence, which is a unique feature not found in most workers' compensation frameworks.