Pennsylvania law
Wrongful Death Laws in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania recognizes both wrongful-death and survival actions when someone dies because of another party’s wrongful act, neglect, unlawful violence, or negligence. The two claims are related but distinct, and families often need both analyzed together early.
Last verified: 2026-04-16
Guided help
Ask about a wrongful death deadline, right, or next step.
Keep the question grounded in Pennsylvania. FlowLawyers can route you to the statute section, legal aid, attorney search, or a guided workflow when one fits.
Fast paths
The law sections below preserve the citations and source links. Use guided help when you need to move from reading the rule to choosing what to do next.
State law
Statute of Limitations
Wrongful-death actions in Pennsylvania generally must be filed within 2 years of the date of death.
State law
Fault & Liability Rules
Pennsylvania’s comparative-fault rules still matter in wrongful-death litigation, including cases arising from negligence and product-related theories.
State law
Filing Requirements
Wrongful-death and survival claims often require coordination with estate administration because the survival action is typically pursued through the decedent’s personal representative.
State law
Key Pennsylvania Statutes
Pennsylvania allows a wrongful-death action to recover damages for eligible family members when a death is caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another.
A Pennsylvania survival action preserves claims the decedent could have brought if they had lived, allowing the estate to pursue them.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania.
More in Pennsylvania
Other state law topics.
Personal Injury Laws·Criminal Defense Laws·Family Laws·Immigration Laws·Employment Laws·Bankruptcy Laws·Medical Malpractice Laws·Workers' Compensation Laws·Social Security Disability Laws·Product Liability Laws·Long-Term Disability & ERISA Laws·Estate Planning Laws·Probate Laws·Real Estate Laws·Landlord & Tenant Laws·Business Laws·Intellectual Property Laws·Tax Laws·Elder Laws·Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Laws·Civil Rights Laws·Domestic Violence Laws·Veterans Legal Services Laws·Healthcare & Benefits Laws·Construction Defect Laws·Insurance Disputes Laws·Premises Liability Laws·Commercial Litigation Laws·Environmental Laws·Securities & Finance Laws·Municipal Laws·Administrative Laws