Individuals who have been hurt and suffered loss through no fault of their own need legal support. If you were in a car accident while pregnant, you may find yourself overwhelmed, worried, and terrified that something has happened to the child. Individuals who have suffered a miscarriage or who may have a child that later develops improperly may have a legal case.
Can a Car Accident Cause a Miscarriage?
If you’ve been in a car accident while pregnant, your first step should be to visit an emergency room. Your doctors should, from this point out, provide extra monitoring to ensure that your child grows properly and has not suffered loss. Unfortunately, some women may suffer a miscarriage. This can be a direct result from the car accident, indirectly related to it, or not related to it at all. Unfortunately, it may be hard to pinpoint this.
However, car accidents of all types can put a pregnant woman at a higher risk. Some of these risks may include:
- Pre-term labor
- Miscarriage
- Hemorrhaging
- Internal bleeding
- Lack of oxygen risks
- Birth defects
- Stress and emotional trauma
If and when a woman experiences a car accident while pregnant, she will need to work with her doctor to determine the best possible treatment. This may include more intense monitoring of the child. Some may be presented with the need to deliver sooner. And, unfortunately, some women may lose their child.
Can a Car Accident While Pregnant Cause Brain Damage to the Fetus?
A variety of factors can contribute to physical injury to an unborn child after a car accident. For example, a driver that is hit from behind may have their body forced into the steering wheel, hurting the child. In other cases, a loss of consciousness or a lack of oxygen may starve the child of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. This, in particular, can cause brain damage to the fetus. A mother who suffers minor injuries on her physical body may still be suffering from internal bleeding, damage to the spinal column, and even stress. All of this can contribute to the well-being and development of the child.
Key factors in determining the amount of risk presented to the child include:
- Any instance in which the mother loses consciousness
- Any instance of bleeding – internally, vaginally, or otherwise
- Impact or trauma to the midsection and pelvis area even minor
- Any type of fluid leakage from the vagina
- Any instance where the heart has stopped beating, or the mother has stopped breathing
It’s also important to note that the life-saving methods performed by emergency medical professionals can also cause damage to the child especially if they do not know of the pregnancy.
What Can Happen to the Child?
When a car accident occurs, the child’s normal state of growth may be disrupted, leading to potential complications. Consider the following:
Car Accident Pregnant First Semester
For a mother in a minor car accident during the first semester, no complications may be present. The more traumatic the event is, the more risk there is for stunted growth of the child or a miscarriage of the child.
Car Accident Pregnant Third Trimester
During the third trimester, the child is significantly larger. Even a minor accident here can cause significant damage to the child due to his or her size, position, and development. In this case, there may be physical damage to the child. In other cases, the accident itself can lead to early birth, putting the child at risk for under-development of the lungs or heart.
Car Accident Miscarriage Settlement – Is It Possible?
Here are a few sobering facts about motor vehicle injuries and pregnant women from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
- Each year, 170,000 vehicle accidents occur involving pregnant women.
- It is estimated that nearly three percent of women report that they’ve been in a car accident while pregnant.
- Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of injury or death in pregnant women.
- Up to three percent of babies born have been exposed to a motor vehicle accident in utero.
- Many of these deaths and injuries are considered preventable by the CDC.
Taking all of this information into consideration, what should you do if you’ve been injured in a car accident as a pregnant mother? Turn to an attorney specializing in personal injury. Discuss your case. It is possible to obtain a car accident miscarriage settlement or a settlement for other losses you or your child have endured as a result of someone else’s negligence.
How We Can Help You
Let our well qualified Little Rock personal injury attorneys help you. At Levar Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we are happy to provide you with a full, free consultation to discuss your case. We encourage you to call us today to discuss your situation in a safe, confidential manner. Call 888-220-7068.
