Pregnancy and Personal Injury Claims
Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean that you don’t have to get in your car and go somewhere – you have every right to do it. In fact, it is recommended because it is regarded as an exercise for you and the baby.
While expectant mothers take all the care in the world to avoid getting an injury and live healthy for the sake of the baby, the road is unforgiving at times. The road comes with many risks and dangers, even for pregnant women.
One of the dangers that lurk beyond the doors of your house is being involved in a road accident. Car accidents might lead to injuries to the mother and affect the unborn baby.
If you are involved in an accident, and you lose the baby, no amount of compensation can make up for the loss of the baby. However, you can get some reprieve if you hold the parties responsible accountable and you bring them to book.
Just like any other accident, the compensation you receive from the claim depends on the severity of the injuries, the outcome of the accident relating to the pregnancy, and whether the unborn child survived or not. It is vital to enlist the services of a qualified car accident lawyer near you to help handle the case on your behalf.
Dangers to Pregnancy Due to Car accidents
“Studies show that approximately 1500 to 5,000 unborn babies die due to car accidents every year.”
There are various risks to the expectant mother and the unborn baby due to car accidents. These include:
- Detachment of the placenta. This occurs due to a blow to the lower abdomen during an accident. The placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus, therefore cutting off the oxygen supply to the fetus. This requires emergency delivery using a cesarean section. Any delay and the fetus can die.
- Maternal shock. If the expectant mother losses a lot of blood, they go into a condition called hypovolemic shock. The fetus is 80 percent likely to die due to this.
- Rupture of the uterus. However, this is a rare occurrence; but you cannot completely rule it out. The baby loses oxygen the moment the uterine wall ruptures, leading to mortality.
- Fetal trauma. At times, the impact can cause direct injury to the child’s head due to the positioning. This can lead to fetal mortality.
Car accident injuries can also lead to postpartum complications that affect both the mother and the child.
The Costs of Treatment Are Higher in Such Accidents
Due to the mother’s emergency and circumstances, the costs of treating and caring for an expectant mother after the accident are more than injuries sustained by a non-pregnant woman.
If the injuries were severe, future costs might also be higher than normal. Emergency deliveries lead to congenital disabilities that might require more medical care for the child.
Emotional Damages are Common
Every mother always expects to give birth to a normal baby. However, the baby might be born with birth defects due to the accident, leading to emotional trauma for the mother. The mother has a right to sue for emotional damages to cover the emotional suffering she has undergone.
Loss of the Baby in the Accident
This can be so unfortunate, but it happens. When it does, the mother is allowed to file a wrongful death suit to recover the damages suffered.
Talk to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Near You
You have a right to file a claim against the negligent driver to get compensated for the injuries to you and your unborn child. Choose a lawyer with a proven track record and a reputation for winning cases.
