survival action

noun

: an action for the recovery of damages for injury to a fatally injured person that is brought by his or her personal representative compare wrongful death action

Note: A survival action depends on the existence of a cause of action that the decedent would have had if he or she had survived. A wrongful death suit is concerned with injury to beneficiaries, not the decedent.

Dictionary Entries Near survival action

Cite this Entry

“Survival action.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/survival%20action. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!