The Act provides that, if the death of a person is caused by wrongful act neglect or default, an action for damages is maintainable by the legal heirs of the deceased against the party causing injury. Damages are awarded by the court in proportion to the financial loss resulting from such death to the survivors. The Act abolished the long standing rule of common law according to which a civil action for damages ends with the death of any of the person, on whom or by whom the tort was committed.