Pregnant Woman Do After an Car Accident
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What Should a Pregnant Woman Do After an Auto Accident?

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

Injuries caused by auto accidents range in severity, from minor cuts or scrapes to debilitating long-term disabilities and even death. While anyone involved in a traffic accident should immediately seek medical attention, expectant mothers involved in a car crash must seek care for themselves and their unborn child.

If you were involved in a vehicle collision during your pregnancy or if you are currently expecting, you need to know what steps to take to protect your health, the health of your unborn child, and your legal rights.

Seek Medical Care

It is estimated that there are between 1,500 to 5,000 car-accident induced fetal losses per year incurred by expectant mothers. Additionally, 82% of fetal deaths are attributed to car accidents, making it the leading cause of death in unborn babies.

No matter how minor your injuries may seem after a fender bender, they can become life-threatening to you or your unborn child. After an auto accident, the first thing you should do is go to the emergency room to seek medical care.

Vehicle collision injuries can have devastating consequences, especially for women who are pregnant. If you are involved in a car accident, your unborn child could incur the following injuries:

Premature Birth

Premature birth may be caused by the stress that a car accident induces on your mind and body. Premature birth increases your baby’s risk of developmental delays and health issues as they get older.

Miscarriage

Miscarriage can occur as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Miscarriage can be immediate or may occur in the days or weeks following an accident in which you suffered internal bleeding or serious injury.

High-Risk Pregnancy

If you experience damage to your uterine wall from a car accident, you may be classified as a high-risk pregnancy. This makes complications more likely during and after the birth of your child.

Birth Defects

Birth defects can be caused by trauma to the fetus incurred in a car accident or due to premature birth. Birth defects can affect your child for their entire life.

Coup and Contrecoup Injuries

Coup and contrecoup injuries occur when a stationary object hits a moving object, which is a common occurrence in auto accidents. In pregnant mothers, these injuries tend to produce symptoms similar to shaken baby syndrome in the fetus.

Fetal Trauma

Fetal trauma refers to any injuries that happen to a fetus in utero. This may be a blunt force to the mother’s abdomen, infection, or lack of oxygen supply. These can cause birth defects and other problems for your unborn child.

Placental Abruption

Placental abruption occurs when your placenta separates or partially separates from your uterus pre-labor. In auto accidents, the impact can cause placental abruption, which can cause preterm labor, birth defects, or miscarriage for pregnant mothers.

Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan

Following your emergency room or doctor’s office visit, ensure you follow the recommended treatment plan. Car accidents involving pregnant women can become complex because it may be difficult to prove that an injury to the child or a birth defect caused by fetal trauma directly results from the car accident.

To protect your legal rights and ensure the best possible outcome for your unborn child, follow medical instructions from your doctor and keep all documentation regarding your medical visits.

Call the Police

After an auto collision, it is essential to call the police to report the accident. Depending on your injuries, call the police and make a report. Give them any details you can remember about the accident. If you were able to gather contact information or witness statements, report them to the authorities. Avoid making any statements that would indicate you were at fault in the accident.

Keep a Case File

If you are mentally and physically able to do so, begin a case file regarding your accident. Include medical reports that detail you and your unborn child’s injuries, as well as any photographs you took of the accident scene or your injuries. Also, include any police reports of the accident and your recollection of the event. Include details such as if you were wearing a seat belt, how the accident happened, and what you’ve experienced as a result.

Seek Legal Advice

If you are involved in an auto collision while you are pregnant, it is essential to seek legal advice from a qualified Michigan car accident attorney as soon as possible.

Michigan’s “no-fault” laws regarding traffic accidents can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused, especially in the wake of dealing with injuries to your unborn baby. A car accident lawyer at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help.

While you recover from your injuries, we will seek compensation for the medical bills and emotional pain and suffering caused by your accident. We will handle communications with the police and the insurance company and work to hold the at-fault driver responsible for the damages you and your unborn child incurred.

After an Auto Accident

Contact Cochran, Kroll, & Associates Today

If you or your unborn child sustained injuries in a car accident in Michigan, contact Cochran, Kroll, & Associates P.C. to help you seek compensation for your suffering.

Our team of compassionate personal injury lawyers can guide you through the legal process and ensure you have the best chance at a fair settlement to help you cover any long-term consequences of your auto accident. Call us at 866-MICH-LAW for a free consultation.

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.

Lynn Mayfield is a writer and has worked in finance and education. Lynn earned her Master's Degree in Education and now writes informative articles for various legal organizations. She enjoys drinking coffee and spending time outdoors.

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