While the two terms are often used interchangeably, a wrongful death claim and survival action represent two distinct legal procedures. A wrongful death claim compensates survivors for their loss.
At the same time, a survival action compensates for damages the deceased could have recovered had they survived.
Wrongful death claims generally account for damages like loss of income, medical and funeral expenses, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and more. On the other hand, survival actions primarily cover damages the deceased incurred while living, such as pain and suffering, medical costs, and more.
In some states, wrongful death and survival actions may be sought, while others may only allow one of these claims. Your attorney can clarify the differences and explain which type of claim applies to your situation.