What is a "survival action" in tort claims?

A survival action is a legal claim that allows the estate or the heirs of a deceased person to pursue a lawsuit for damages that the decedent suffered prior to their death. This type of action is grounded in the idea that certain claims and rights do not automatically cease upon a person's death, but rather can be continued by their representatives or heirs. This means that if an individual experienced harm, such as personal injury or property damage, and subsequently died, the claims for damages related to that harm can still be pursued.

The other options do not accurately represent survival actions. A survival action specifically concerns claims related to wrongs experienced by a deceased individual, rather than addressing contract issues, which is what a type of contract claim would involve. It also does not pertain solely to minors, as it applies broadly to any decedent's estate. Lastly, a survival action is distinctly separate from claims focused on preventing property loss, which relates to entirely different legal principles and issues. Therefore, option A correctly encapsulates the essence of what a survival action is in the context of tort claims.