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Any car accident can bring physical injuries and a stressful legal process. However, if you are in a car accident while pregnant, the consequences can be even worse. Not only can the mother suffer injuries, but her pregnancy may be complicated by injuries to the developing baby.
If you have been in a car accident during pregnancy and are wondering what your next steps should be, call the attorneys at Zinda Law Group at (512) 246-2224 for a free case evaluation with an attorney. If we don’t reach a favorable outcome in your case, you don’t owe us anything.
Seek Medical Attention
If you have been in any sort of car accident, for example, if you were rear-ended while pregnant, then it is critical that you seek the appropriate medical attention for your injuries. This is because any injury, no matter how small it may seem, can result in injuries to your baby or complications with your pregnancy. A few common injuries after a car accident while pregnant include:
Injuries to the Mother
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue refers to the connective material that supports and surrounds the other structures in your body, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Sudden change of speeds caused by an accident can result in injuries to this soft tissue. One typical example includes whiplash, in which the quick movement of your head snapping back and forth can strain the muscles in your neck and upper back.
Cuts and Bruises
In a car accident, anything that is not fastened down can become a projectile. This includes phones, wallets, purses, children’s toys, or any other object. During a collision, these objects can fly around the car at high speeds and end up causing further injury.
Broken Bones
A car accident that occurs at a high velocity can also result in broken bones for an expectant mother. Common examples of broken bones include rib fractures from an airbag or seatbelt, as well as back or hip fractures.
Injuries to Baby or Complications in Pregnancy
Miscarriage/Premature Birth
Babies are fairly well protected by amniotic fluid, but in the most severe of circumstances, an accident can result in a miscarriage. Short of that, an accident can also result in premature birth, defined as any delivery prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy. This happens due to the tremendous amount of stress that a woman undergoes during and after an accident.
Fetal Brain Damage
As mentioned, babies are fairly well protected in the womb. However, a blow to the mother’s abdomen can result in brain damage to the fetus. This brain damage can have long-term effects on the baby and mother.
Placental Abruption
Placental abruption is a serious condition in which the placenta partially or completely separates from the uterus before the baby is born. It is a fairly rare condition, but trauma sustained from a car accident can increase the chances of its occurrence.
Document the Accident
At the outset of a car accident claim, it is difficult to determine what details might become important in seeking compensation for your injuries. Therefore, it is important to be as thorough as possible when gathering the details of your accident.
Record Details of the Accident
As soon as possible, sit down and write down the details that you remember about the circumstances leading up to the accident. Include things that may not seem relevant at the time, because they may end being relevant in the case. Also, make sure to keep careful records of any expenditures that you make as a result of the accident. This includes things like medical records, proof of any lost wages, and vehicle damage or proof of vehicle value.
Gather Witness and Police Info
After the accident, if you are able, give a thorough report to the police. Again, include details that may not seem relevant to you at the time. Also, make sure to get the contact information from any people who may have been nearby and witnessed the accident take place.
File a Claim and Seek Compensation
After the dust has settled on your accident, you will be probably left wondering, “Do I have a legal case?” Also, you’ll probably be wondering what that case is worth, if anything. In order to file a claim, it is important to complete a few key steps.
1. Contact an Attorney
First, speak with an experienced attorney. An attorney may be able to give you an idea of what your claim is worth, or if it is even worth pursuing. The car accident lawyers at Zinda Law Group offer free case evaluations. If you become our client, you won’t pay anything unless we win your case.
2. Gather Information
After you have hired a lawyer, they may be able to begin gathering the information that is relevant to your case. This includes things like police reports and statements from people who may have witnessed the accident.
3. Negotiate a Settlement
Once they have gathered the information they need, your lawyer may be able to begin negotiating a settlement with the other parties involved. An experienced attorney may be able to use lessons learned from past cases in order to accentuate the strengths of your claim while minimizing its weaknesses.
Potential Sources of Compensation
In order to recover anything from a car accident claim, you must have incurred “damages.” Damages are the legal name for any injuries or harm you suffered for which a court will hold another person liable. Some common examples of economic damages include medical bills, damage to your car or other property, and lost wages from not being able to work. In certain situations, you may also be able to claim non-economic damages as well, which refer to the pain and suffering you experience as a result of your injuries.
Contact Zinda Law Group
You don’t have to go through the difficult post-accident time alone—the team at Zinda Law Group may be able to help. We believe that an injury victim should never have to worry about their ability to pay for legal representation, which is why you will pay nothing unless we win your case. Call Zinda Law Group at (512) 246-2224 to schedule your free consultation with a car accident attorney.
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