Can a Car Accident Cause a Miscarriage?
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
If you have been involved in a car crash and miscarried, you may wonder, can a car accident cause a miscarriage, and what actions can you take for legal recourse? Unfortunately, a car accident has the potential to cause harm to both the pregnant woman and the unborn baby. The severity of the accident, the force of impact, and the safety measures taken, such as wearing a seatbelt, can all influence the level of risk.
Minor accidents without substantial trauma or direct impact on the abdomen may not cause a miscarriage. In severe accidents, however, there is a greater risk of complications, including miscarriages, placental abruption, and injury to the baby.
No amount of compensation can ever truly compensate for your profound loss, but legal action can provide closure and justice. When you experience a miscarriage due to a car accident, you and your family can file a wrongful death claim against the other driver.
At Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., our car accident attorneys understand the sensitivity of cases involving car accidents and miscarriages. We provide compassionate and skilled legal representation to families who have experienced the devastating loss of an unborn baby due to a car accident.
How Can a Car Accident Cause a Miscarriage?
The force of the impact can result in jolts or blows to your abdomen, potentially leading to injuries to the uterus, placenta, or the developing fetus. These injuries can disrupt the delicate environment necessary for your baby’s growth and development, increasing the risk of miscarriage.
Not all car accidents cause immediate miscarriages, but they are responsible for around 50% of blunt trauma injuries and 82% of fetal deaths. About 8% of all pregnancies are affected by the abrupt trauma originating from a car crash, with pelvic fractures being responsible for 35% of miscarriages induced by trauma.
It is vital to seek immediate medical attention after a car accident during pregnancy to assess potential risks and receive appropriate care.
Blunt Force Trauma
The sudden impact of a car accident due to a seatbelt or airbags can result in severe physical injuries, including abdominal injuries. A direct blow to the abdomen may cause an injury called placental abruption that separates the placenta from the uterine wall. This separation disrupts the normal flow of nutrients and oxygen, impacting the well-being of the developing baby.
Studies have shown that approximately 32% of miscarriages caused by trauma are attributed to placental abruptions.
Maternal Injuries
Trauma and stress can affect your baby if you suffer severe injuries like pelvic fractures. A pelvic injury can cause the baby to sustain a direct head injury. Your body may also enter a state of hypovolemic shock due to a large amount of blood loss.
The blunt force can also cause bladder injuries, resulting in a uterine rupture. Uterine ruptures are uncommon, occurring in only 0.06% of trauma-related pregnancy injuries. Unfortunately, the baby is unlikely to survive the rupture.
Risk Factors for Suffering a Miscarriage Due to a Car Crash
Pregnancy increases the risk of injuries for you and your baby in the aftermath of a car accident since the changes in your body—such as tissue swelling and fluctuating fluid levels—complicate the interpretation of vital signs. These physical changes might impede necessary surgical procedures, increasing the chance of adverse outcomes for you and your unborn child.
Other risk factors include:
- Morbid obesity
- Severe injuries such as fractures and internal organ damage
- Psychological stress
Damages You Can Receive if You Miscarry Due to a Vehicle Accident
A miscarriage may require medication and surgical intervention, increasing your financial burden. To recover the medical costs of a miscarriage, filing a PIP (Personal Injury Protection) claim with your auto insurance can help you receive coverage for your injuries.
PIP Benefits
Your PIP coverage provides compensation for your medical expenses and lost income. You are entitled to the following benefits under your PIP policy:
- Coverage for reasonable medical expenses: This includes ambulance services, emergency room care, surgeries, hospital stays, and doctor and specialist visits.
- Compensation for lost income: If you lost your income due to taking time off to recover from the accident, you are entitled to up to 85% of what you would have earned.
- Replacement services: You may be entitled to receive up to $20 per day for replacement services to assist with household chores that you can’t perform, such as childcare and housekeeping.
- Attendant care: PIP benefits can cover up to 56 hours of care if you need assistance with daily activities.
Wrongful Death Damages
Michigan allows you to file a wrongful death claim due to the neglect and wrongful action of the other. Miscarriages are considered wrongful deaths under Michigan law if they result from negligent acts like car accidents.
Your lawyer can initiate the wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf. They can prove that the miscarriage and the wrongful death of your baby were due to a negligent driver.
For instance, if a driver runs a red light and injures you causing you to miscarry, your lawyer can identify businesses near the accident site to request security camera footage and interview witnesses for their statements. They can also connect with expert medical witnesses who can testify on how a car accident can cause a miscarriage.
If you win your wrongful death lawsuit, you can recover medical costs and funeral and burial expenses. You can also recover non-economic damages for emotional distress and pain and suffering resulting from the loss of your baby.
What to Do if You Experience a Car Collision While Pregnant
If you are in a car crash while pregnant, prioritize medical attention. The following steps will help you safeguard your well-being and your baby’s health:
Report the Accident to the Police
If you have any concerns about your pregnancy or suspect you or your baby may be injured, call 911 and request the police and emergency first responders. As you speak with the police, provide all the relevant details you can recall about the accident, like the location, date, time, and the events leading up to the accident.
Tell the emergency responders you’re expecting and how far along you are with your pregnancy. They can evaluate for any injuries and check your vital signs before transporting you to the nearest hospital.
Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
Once you arrive at the emergency room, the doctor will have you undergo a comprehensive obstetric examination and ultrasound imaging to monitor the well-being of your fetus and placenta in case you experienced placental abruption. The hospital may require you to stay for several hours or overnight to watch for symptoms like bleeding or contractions.
Follow the treatment plan after the doctor discharges you from the hospital. Your doctor may recommend restricting your activities and scheduling appointments with your gynecologist to check on your baby. They will also advise you to watch for any of the following symptoms of a miscarriage:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Fluid leakage
- Contractions
- Cramping
- Abdominal pain
- Facial swelling
- Swelling in the fingers
- Severe or persistent headaches
- High blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Chills or fever
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- A change in the baby’s movements
These symptoms may not start immediately; it can take hours or days before you begin experiencing them. Seek immediate medical attention if you show signs of a miscarriage.
Gather Evidence for Your Claim
As you continue to meet your healthcare provider, save all your medical documents for your car accident claim.
- Medical records documenting your injuries and those sustained by your child
- Hospital bills and prescription receipts
- Police report detailing what happened in the accident
- Pay stubs of what you earned before the accident
- Photos and videos of the accident scene and your injuries
- Personal journal detailing the emotional pain and loss you’ve endured since the accident
Report Your Accident to Your Auto Insurance Company
You should report your accident to your insurance claim to receive PIP coverage. Mention the date, time, and location of the accident and the types of injuries you suffered. You must also disclose details of the medical attention you received from the hospital.
The auto insurance adjuster will walk you through the claims process, including uploading documents to their website to determine your eligibility for benefits. Avoid making statements about who is at fault for the accident. The adjuster may use your statements to reduce compensation or deny your claim. Consult with a car accident attorney before making detailed statements to the adjuster.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
The best way to protect your rights and interests if you are involved in a car accident while pregnant is to contact a Michigan car accident lawyer. The experienced car accident lawyers at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., can provide legal guidance and support for your claim.
Our senior partner, Eileen Kroll, is a registered nurse who can evaluate your medical records and provide insight into your injuries. She can help you understand how a car accident can cause a miscarriage by connecting your injuries to the crash.
If the collision involved multiple parties, your lawyer will ensure that these parties are held accountable when you file your wrongful death claim.
Our Michigan Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Losing a baby after an accident is a heartbreaking experience. Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. attorneys will work hard to ensure you receive restitution for your injuries and loss. We can help you understand how a car accident can cause a miscarriage by gathering evidence and determining negligence in your case.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.
