What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?

Wrongful death claims and survival actions are two types of legal cases that may be brought against another person in California. A wrongful death claim is a legal case brought by the relatives of a person who has died due to the negligence or wrongful act of another. The claim seeks to compensate the family for economic losses such as lost wages and funeral expenses, as well as non-economic losses such as loss of companionship and pain and suffering. A survival action is different in that it is a legal claim that is brought on behalf of the deceased individual, rather than on behalf of the family of the deceased. It is typically filed in cases of medical malpractice, products liability, and other types of negligence cases. The claim seeks to compensate the individual for any pain and suffering they experienced before their death as a result of the negligent act. The main difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action is that a wrongful death claim is brought on behalf of the family of the deceased, while a survival action is brought on behalf of the deceased individual. In wrongful death cases, the family seeks to be compensated for their losses as a result of the death, while in survival actions, the individual seeks to be compensated for any pain and suffering they experienced prior to their death due to the negligence of another.

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