If you tragically lose a loved one due to the wrongful actions of another person or entity, the two primary options you have for legal recourse in civil court are a wrongful death action and a survival action. While both types of lawsuits can lead to financial compensation for the victim’s surviving loved ones, there are some distinct differences between the two actions. In short, a wrongful death lawsuit will compensate the survivors for damages incurred by both the victim and the survivors. On the other hand, survival actions only grant financial recovery to the survivors for the damages incurred by the victim between the time of injury and death.