Involvement in a car accident is scary enough, but being involved in an accident while pregnant is an absolute nightmare. How you respond when involved in a wreck as an expectant mother can make a huge difference to the safety and well-being of you and your baby.
This article will provide some guidance concerning what a pregnant mother should do after being involved in a car accident. If you or a loved one were involved in a car crash while pregnant, one of the first things you should do is call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free case evaluation with our car accident attorneys.
Can A Car Accident Affect An Unborn Baby?
A car accident can affect an unborn baby in a myriad of ways. Being proactive and taking the necessary steps are critical, not only for receiving proper medical attention for both mother and baby but also for putting yourself in a position to receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Birth Defects
Though a car accident does not guarantee congenital disabilities, or birth defects, they can occur. Furthermore, if the baby is born prematurely because of a car accident, the baby may suffer developmental disabilities.
Shaken Baby Syndrome
You may have heard never to shake babies. This is because babies have weak neck muscles, and their brains can slam back and forth against their skulls if they are shaken violently.
Shaken baby syndrome can occur while the baby is still in her mother’s womb. When your unborn baby is injured by severe shaking inside the womb as a result of a car accident, you may be able to seek compensation for her injuries with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Fetal Trauma
Many fetal deaths are caused by car accidents. When a pregnant mother suffers a blow to her abdomen, the fetus may not receive adequate oxygen or may suffer direct injuries, all of which can cause termination of the pregnancy.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationPossible Pregnancy Complications After A Collision
Even if a baby is not directly affected by an accident, the pregnancy process can be negatively impacted by a car accident. These are some of the more common ways an unborn child may be affected by injuries sustained by their pregnant mother in a car accident:
- Premature birth
- Miscarriage
- Slow growth
- High blood pressure
- Placenta previa
- Birth asphyxia
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationCar Accident Symptoms To Watch Out For When Pregnant
Because injuries to an unborn baby and complications in pregnancy can be difficult to detect, it is important to know what symptoms can be signs of a serious issue. For example:
- Loss of consciousness
- Hemorrhaging
- Vaginal bleeding
- Difficulty urinating
- Swelling of the face or hands
- Abdominal pain
- Recurring and severe headaches
- Dizziness and vomiting unrelated to pregnancy
- Premature birth
- Miscarriage
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
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Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow To Prevent Pregnancy Injuries From Car Accidents
The best way to deal with injuries from car accidents is to prevent them from happening in the first place. While you can never control what other drivers do on the road, you can take steps to minimize risk.
Follow Traffic Rules
Though simple, you would be surprised how many drivers fail to follow the rules of the road. Remember to use your turn signals when switching lanes or taking turns. Do not tailgate drivers.
Do not text and drive or drink and drive. Follow the speed limit. Too many car accidents happen as a result of drivers not following simple rules.
Make Sure You Adjust Your Car
Driving in the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy will be different from driving at the beginning. You may have to adjust your seat and steering wheel to the changes in your body. Being able to steer properly and feeling comfortable in your seat can protect your baby; an uncomfortable driving posture raises the risk of an accident.
Wear Your Seatbelt
It is not true that wearing a seatbelt could cause harm to your baby if you brake quickly or are involved in an accident. If you wear the seatbelt correctly, no harm should arise due to the seatbelt itself. Place the seatbelt across your chest and ensure it does not go above your baby bump.
Make Sure Your Airbags Work Properly
Like seatbelts, airbags are intended to provide protection in case of accidents. Airbags will not harm your baby as a result of a car accident. As long as you have adjusted your steering wheel so that the airbag will spread out over your face and chest, you will not have to worry about the airbag being a threat to your baby.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWhat To Do After A Car Accident
You can do the following things after a car accident before contacting an attorney about a personal injury claim against the person who caused your injury. Protecting your legal case will be easier if you take care to document everything you do as you follow these four steps:
1. Seek Medical Attention
Seek a medical examination immediately after an accident, especially if you were hit by a car while pregnant. Although you may feel fine, your baby may not be.
An impact against the abdomen can cause trauma to your unborn child and cause complications later down the road. You will want to ensure that such harm can be mitigated by going to a doctor.
2. Document the Accident
Whenever you are in a car accident, you should make sure that you document the accident. Although the police will write a report of the accident, you may wish to do your own investigation as the police may not be thorough.
Get the name, address, license number, plate number, and insurance information of all the drivers involved in the accident. Also, if a driver involved in the crash was driving for an employer at the time, get the name and contact information of the driver’s employer as well.
Because witness testimony is very important in most car accident cases, you should also get the names and contact information of the witnesses. If witnesses took photographs or video recordings of the accident, ask them for copies. If you have a camera at the scene of the accident, take photographs of the entire scene.
3. Keep Receipts and Invoices
Keep and archive any costs that arise from the car accident. For instance, archive any medical bills. If, as a result of the car accident, you cannot work, you should also retrieve paystubs and the like to show how much in “lost wages” you were damaged.
4. Notify Your Insurance Company
Regardless of whose fault the accident is, you should always contact your insurance company as your insurance company may be able to give you some relief. However, do not make the mistake of talking about who was at fault for the accident. If your insurance company asks for a recorded statement, politely refuse.
Need Help? Contact An Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today
The experienced attorneys at Zinda Law Group may be able to help you with your personal injury claim if you were hit by a car while pregnant. After an accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about affording legal representation, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t owe us anything unless we win your case.
Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers.
Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
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