Getting Hurt In A Car Accident While Pregnant

An experienced attorney can fight for injured mothers and their babies

A car accident can happen suddenly, turning an uneventful drive into a frightening experience. Victims can be left with serious injuries that affect their lives in many ways. But for pregnant women, the impact can be especially concerning. The health and safety of both the mother and her unborn baby are at risk.

If a negligent driver caused the accident, expectant mothers need to know their rights. They may be able to recover financial compensation through a personal injury claim. But the legal process can be complicated, and insurance companies may dispute the extent of the damages suffered.

Car accident injuries can cause pregnancy complications.

Any type of car crash – such as a rear-end accident, a T-bone crash, or a head-on collision – can leave drivers and passengers hurt. But when a car accident victim is pregnant, there can be complications for both the mother and her unborn baby. These complications may include:

Placental abruption

This occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery. This can lead to serious and possibly life-threatening complications such as maternal hemorrhage, fetal distress, preterm birth, and even stillbirth. Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or tenderness, back pain, and frequent contractions.

Preterm labor

This refers to the onset of labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm birth increases the likelihood of complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, infections, and developmental delays for the baby. It can also result in maternal complications such as hemorrhage and uterine rupture.

Warning signs include regular contractions that occur every ten minutes or less, pelvic pressure, lower back pain, vaginal discharge, and abdominal cramping.

Fetal injury

Fetal injury resulting from a car accident can occur due to the sudden impact and force exerted on the mother’s abdomen. The abrupt deceleration or collision can lead to direct trauma to the baby, causing serious injuries. These injuries can include fractures, organ damage, or even fetal demise.

Symptoms of fetal injuries can include decreased fetal movement, abnormal heart rate, vaginal bleeding, or fluid leakage from the vagina.

Miscarriage

Miscarriage, the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before the 20th week, can also occur as a result of a car accident due to direct trauma to the uterus or placenta during the impact of a collision. For the mother, a miscarriage can result in emotional distress, physical complications, and potential complications in future pregnancies.

Symptoms include vaginal bleeding, abdominal cramping, passing tissue or clots from the vagina, and a sudden decrease in pregnancy symptoms.

Damages suffered in car accidents involving expectant mothers

Expectant mothers need to get medical attention as soon as possible following a car accident. A doctor can conduct an examination and run tests to diagnose the injuries and promptly begin treatment. Medical expenses for different types of medical attention can add up quickly. They may include:

Emergency medical treatment

In cases of severe trauma or complications, emergency medical treatment may be necessary to address immediate health concerns for both the mother and her unborn baby. This may involve emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging, and urgent medical interventions to stabilize their condition.

Prenatal care and monitoring

Expectants may require extensive prenatal care and monitoring to assess the health and development of both mother and baby. This includes regular check-ups, ultrasounds, and specialized tests to monitor fetal well-being.

Hospitalization and surgery

Serious pregnancy complications, such as placental abruption or fetal distress, may require hospitalization and surgery to repair damage, monitor health, and ensure the safety of both mother and baby.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) costs

If the unborn baby experiences complications as a result of the car accident, the child may require specialized care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after birth. NICU costs can include medical monitoring, respiratory support, and specialized treatments to address prematurity or other health issues.

Long-term rehabilitation and therapy

In cases where pregnancy complications result in long-term health challenges for the mother or the baby, rehabilitation and therapy may be necessary for recovery and to improve quality of life. This can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other interventions tailored to the individual’s needs.

A mother may also suffer other damages as a result of an accident. These can include lost wages if she was unable to return to work, as well as pain and suffering.

If you were injured, it’s important to know your legal options

If a negligent driver caused an accident that resulted in injuries affecting you and your unborn baby, you have the right to seek financial compensation. However, there can be several obstacles to receiving an amount that is fair and covers all of your damages:

• The negligent driver may deny doing anything wrong and refuses to accept responsibility, even if the driver was speeding, texting behind the wheel, or driving aggressively. This puts you in the position of having to prove negligence led to the accident that caused your injuries.
• The insurance company might argue that the accident wasn’t severe enough to cause a fetal injury, especially if the mother’s injuries are minor. They might claim that pregnancy complications arose from other unrelated factors.
• The insurer may try to establish that the pregnancy complications were due to pre-existing conditions in the mother or fetus, attempting to shift responsibility away from the accident.
• The insurance company may argue that a lack of specific prenatal testing before the accident makes it difficult to prove the accident caused the injury definitively.
• You may be blamed for being partially at fault for the accident, which could reduce your compensation under Arizona’s pure comparative negligence system.
• You may receive a settlement offer from the insurance company that falls far short of covering all the damages you suffered. But it can be tempting to accept the offer as medical bills and other expenses start to add up.

An experienced attorney can guide you through the legal process

Insurance companies handle car accidents every day. They have the advantage after you’ve been hurt in a car accident. They have teams of adjusters, lawyers, and other professionals dedicated to finding ways of minimizing your claim so they can justify paying you as little as possible for your damages.

An experienced Arizona car accident lawyer will know how to respond to these attempts to limit compensation. An attorney will have the resources to investigate the accident thoroughly and can gather evidence that proves negligence. This includes reviewing accident reports, interviewing witnesses, and consulting experts if needed.

In addition, an attorney can determine the total amount of damages you and your baby suffered as a result of the collision. Your lawyer can build a strong case for compensation and negotiate a settlement that meets your needs. Your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance company so you can focus on your and your baby’s health.

Attorney Byron Browne of Browne Law Group understands the physical and emotional impact that a car accident can have on expectant mothers. He gets straight to the point and builds strong cases that help clients recover the financial compensation they deserve. No bull. No nonsense. Just results.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Gilbert or anywhere in Maricopa County, it’s important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to learn your legal options. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.

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