Pennsylvania Wrongful Death and Survival Actions Checklist is a guide to help individuals and families evaluate their legal options in the case of a wrongful death or survival action in the state of Pennsylvania. A wrongful death action is an action brought by the representative of a deceased person’s estate for the benefit of the deceased’s surviving family members that is based on the wrongful act of another person or entity that caused the death of the deceased. A survival action is a claim that is brought by the representative of the deceased’s estate on behalf of the deceased for pain and suffering, lost wages, and other losses that the deceased endured prior to his or her death. The Pennsylvania Wrongful Death and Survival Actions Checklist helps individuals and families identify the key elements necessary to bring a wrongful death or survival action in the state of Pennsylvania. It covers the various elements of a wrongful death or survival action such as: 1. Statute of Limitations: The time frame for filing a wrongful death or survival action in Pennsylvania. 2. Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death or Survival Action: In Pennsylvania, the personal representative (or administrator) of the deceased’s estate must bring a wrongful death or survival action. 3. Damages Recoverable: Damages that may be recovered in a wrongful death or survival action including compensatory damages, punitive damages, and non-economic damages. 4. Who Can Receive Damages: In Pennsylvania, damages are generally awarded to the surviving spouse, children, and/or parents of the deceased. 5. Statutory Notice Requirements: The requirements for providing notice to defendants in a wrongful death or survival action. 6. Statutory Caps on Damages: The limits on damages imposed by Pennsylvania law. 7. Statutory Exceptions to Liability: Exceptions to liability that may apply in a wrongful death or survival action. 8. Repose Statutes: The time limits for bringing a wrongful death or survival action in Pennsylvania. 9. Statutory Bad Faith Actions: Actions that may be brought by a representative of a deceased’s estate against an insurance company for its bad faith handling of a wrongful death or survival claim. 10. Statutory Presumptions of Negligence: The presumption of negligence that applies in certain circumstances. 11. Statutory Rights to a Jury Trial: The right of a litigant to a jury trial in a wrongful death or survival action. 12. Statutory Bifurcation of Damages: The ability of a litigant to separate compensatory damages from punitive damages when seeking damages in a wrongful death or survival action. 13. Statutory Contribution Among Toreadors: The ability of defendants in a wrongful death or survival action to seek contribution from other defendants. 14. Statutory Choice of Law: The applicable law that governs a wrongful death or survival action in Pennsylvania. 15. Statutory Choice of Forum: The forum in which a wrongful death or survival action is to be heard in Pennsylvania.