Best Actions if You’re in A Car Accident While Pregnant

While pregnancy is one of the most significant events in a woman’s life, it carries serious risks. From eating healthy foods, taking precautions while exercising, and avoiding certain chemicals, there are many possible risks that a pregnant mom must avoid to protect her unborn child. Some hazards are unavoidable and unpredictable, which can endanger the life of both mom and baby.

Car accidents cause harm to mother and child more often than we realize. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, auto collisions result in four out of every five fetal deaths when the pregnant mother experiences trauma. To minimize the harm caused by a wreck, it’s essential to take specific steps afterward to ensure the safety of you and your child.

Get Checked out After a Car Accident

Pregnant women involved in auto accidents need evaluation by a doctor right away. It doesn’t matter if it was a small fender-bender or a major crash; you need a doctor to ensure that you and your unborn child are okay. While you may prefer to wait to see your regular obgyn, consider the emergency room as your first option as any delay in care could increase the risk of harm to you or the baby.

As strong as the womb is, it does not offer the amount of protection you think it does. Any sharp jolt or traumatic impact could cause your placenta to hemorrhage or detach from your uterus, which can lead to a dangerous bleeding situation for you and deprive your child of oxygen.

If you get an initial all clear from the emergency room, make sure to schedule a follow-up with your regular doctor as soon as possible, since delayed complications can occur. Also, follow every recommendation you receive and pay close attention to your overall health. If you see any signs of unusual vaginal discharge or blood, or other unexpected symptoms, you may need to go back for additional care.

Car Accidents Can Cause Miscarriages

Sudden loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy is categorized as a miscarriage. This is when a fetus gets expelled from the uterus suddenly or as a result of severe trauma like an auto collision. Stillbirth is another medical condition where an unborn child dies in the womb spontaneously or because of an accident after the 20th pregnancy week.

Typical symptoms of a miscarriage include:

• Light to heavy vaginal bleeding

• Lower lumbar pain

• Abdominal pain

• Nausea

If you experience these symptoms after involvement in a car wreck, see a doctor immediately, especially if you pass blood clots and are experiencing heavy cramping.

Premature Birth as A Result of An Auto Accident

When a child is born before 40 weeks of pregnancy, it is premature and could suffer complications as a result. Premature birth of a child as a result of a traumatic auto accident could cause future development issues or even death. While there are many stories of children beating the odds and growing up strong and healthy, it’s vital to understand the jeopardy their future is in because of someone else’s careless driving.

It’s critical you speak with an attorney who has practical experience representing children hurt in these situations. Your child may need long term care and support, and these types of services are expensive.

Emotional Trauma for Pregnant Accident Victims

Emotional distress is a critical factor to prepare for if you or a loved one are in an accident while pregnant. A mix of emotions will take over after the incident, and it’s important not to face these feelings alone and to seek professional help if you need it. Emotional stress can take a significant toll on the body as well as on your unborn child. Some emotions many pregnant women experience after a collision include:

• Insomnia

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Guilt

• Despair

• Grief

Loss of a pregnancy in a traumatic situation like this may completely debilitate the mother physically and emotionally. Seek specialized care for this situation as speaking to family members and close friends may not offer any relief. Mothers may express regret and self-doubt about themselves after losing their pregnancy because they couldn’t protect their child from harm and blame themselves.

Davie Car Accident Lawyers Can Help

Going through a car accident while pregnant is a delicate situation fraught with medical complications, emotional pain, and the usual hassles from car insurance companies. Fetal death and health complications are common in these types of cases and deserve compassionate legal representation to help navigate the mother through these hard times.

If you suffered an auto crash while pregnant, and the accident cost your unborn child’s life or brought harm to you both, don’t speak with an insurance adjuster until you have a lawyer. Insurance companies are not here to help after a wreck; they want to save money and will take advantage of your vulnerable state of mind.

Speak with the caring Davie car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of McCullough and Leboff about your situation and receive a free case evaluation by contacting us. We have 23years of experience in personal injury cases of this nature and will always put you and your family’s well-being first in every decision we help you make.