Although the actions leading to wrongful death can be criminal, a wrongful death lawsuit is a civil and not a criminal case in Pennsylvania. In a criminal case such as murder, the charges are brought by the government. In contrast, with a wrongful death case, the charges are filed by a family member or representative of the estate.
Another notable difference between a civil case and a criminal case is that criminal law is punitive in nature and primarily seeks to punish the wrongdoer. So-called “tort-law”, on the other hand, is designed to provide surviving family members with a way to recover financial compensation. In other words, while the responsible party could be criminally prosecuted, you will also have to file a civil lawsuit to pursue compensation.