What do survival actions enable a personal representative to do?

Survival actions serve a specific legal purpose within tort law, particularly after the death of an individual. By allowing a personal representative to pursue any claims the decedent had at the time of death, survival actions uphold the decedent's right to seek compensation for injuries or damages that occurred prior to their passing.

This encompasses a wide range of potential claims including, but not limited to, personal injury, property damage, and economic losses, thereby contributing to the decedent’s estate. The ability to pursue such claims acknowledges that while the individual may no longer be alive to seek justice, their legal rights do not simply vanish; instead, they can be represented through appointed individuals.

This option effectively reflects the principle that a cause of action is a property right that can survive the death of the person entitled to it, allowing the estate to be compensated for harms that occurred before death. This is rooted in the notion of transferring the legal interests of the deceased to their estate for the benefit of the heirs or beneficiaries.

In contrast, the other options misinterpret the scope and intent of survival actions. For instance, focusing solely on property claims or emotional distress fails to capture the broader range of potential claims allowed under survival actions. Also, suggesting that they can prevent further