Car Accidents Can Happen Even During the Happiest Times
Pregnancy can be an extraordinary time in a mother’s life. Some women describe their pregnancies as some of the happiest months of their lives. Though unpleasant, being involved in an automobile accident while pregnant can happen quickly – negligent drivers do not discriminate. Pregnant women face a greater risk of injury to themselves and their unborn child in a car accident.
A study reported by Reuters concluded that the rate of accidents for women in the second trimester of pregnancy was almost double the rate for women before becoming pregnant. Pregnant women in auto accidents were also over 40% more likely to require emergency room treatment than those who were not expecting.
Increased Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Due to increased medical expenses, pregnant women in auto accidents may incur higher economic damages. Following an accident, a pregnant woman will often need fetal monitoring and extra appointments with her doctor and potentially other specialists. Regarding noneconomic damage, since their bodies are already altered from the pregnancy, many women experience greater pain and suffering following an accident. Of significance is also the increased anxiety and worry related to the health of her fetus. Increased economic damage coupled with the additional noneconomic, or general, damages means that an insurance claim or legal case involving an accident-injured pregnant woman will usually require more money to conclude to ensure that the victim is fairly compensated.
Insurance Companies Turn a Blind Eye
Insurance companies often will not acknowledge the additional damages a pregnant woman suffers in an automobile accident. They will try to downplay the differences and assert that an accident with a pregnancy factor is no different than any other type of claim. Insurance companies are interested in keeping as much of their money as possible and will do anything to hide the actual value of each injury claim. An experienced personal injury attorney can argue effectively against this lowball mindset.
Potential Trauma Injuries Related to Pregnancy
- Premature Birth. When a baby is born before the 37th week of pregnancy, it is deemed a preterm birth. Studies have shown that rates of preterm labor are elevated following an auto accident.
- High-Risk Pregnancy. The occurrence of an automobile accident can result in the pregnancy being labeled as high-risk. When a pregnancy has that distinction, the medical expenses are often higher due to the need for increased doctor visits, tests, and monitoring.
- Placental Abruption. Placental abruption is when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall. An abruption can be caused by trauma, such as the impact of a car accident, and it is a dangerous complication that needs immediate medical attention. Placental abruptions often result in early delivery and fetal complications.
- Miscarriage. If the car accident is significant, and the impact and trauma are severe, a tragic miscarriage may occur. In such a case, the mother will have a claim for her loss. “Pain and suffering” is a category of damages that insurance companies will often lowball, but the suffering after losing an anticipated and loved baby cannot be understated. A skilled personal injury lawyer will fight for the value of that suffering.
- Fetal Trauma. Because the mother’s body does an excellent job protecting the growing baby, a direct fetal injury that does not involve miscarriage is infrequent but not impossible. Fetal head injuries can occur; if they do, the prognosis is often poor. Thankfully, airbags and properly engaged seat belts have continually shown that they reduce car accident trauma to the mother and unborn baby.
Are Seatbelts Safe for Pregnant Women?
The answer is yes. Though some moms-to-be may wonder whether tightening the strap across her body is safe, all experts agree that pregnant women (and everyone else) should wear a seat belt at all times when riding in a vehicle, as they are the single most effective way to lessen injuries and save lives in an auto accident.
Pregnancy & Seat Belts – Safety Suggestions
- Do not place the belt directly across or over your stomach.
- The safest seat belt is a lap and shoulder belt combination.
- The shoulder belt should fit snugly across the middle of your shoulder and chest and between your breasts. Never place it behind your back or under your arm.
- Place the lap belt under your belly, low across your hip bones.
- Move your seat back as your belly grows to keep a safe distance (some recommend at least 10 inches) from the steering wheel or dashboard, where the airbags are housed.
Watch the YouTube video about how to safely wear a seatbelt while pregnant.
Sacramento Car Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident attorney in Sacramento, California. We hope you or a loved one never experience an auto accident during pregnancy. Still, if the unthinkable happens and you need compassionate, free, and friendly advice, we are here at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We also have a contact form online.
Information about our firm can be reviewed at the sites linked below:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/vectors/baby-bird-delivery-female-girl-1299514/
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