Pregnancy and Car Accidents in Georgia

Pregnant women need to be cautious when in a car, especially in the latter stages of pregnancy. Whether a pregnant woman is driving the car or riding as a passenger, being involved in an accident could result in severe injuries for them and their unborn child. In some cases, these injuries may be fatal to the mother, child, or both. Car accidents can lead to expensive medical bills, intense pain, and an extensive period of lost wages.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Athens while pregnant, contact R. Alan Cleveland, LLC

right away. Attorney Cleveland’s extensive experience as a Georgia car accident lawyer has helped him recover significant compensation for his clients, including multiple awards of $1 million or more. Contact our office for a free initial consultation.

What Happens if You Get in a Car Accident While Pregnant?

The effects of a car accident when you’re pregnant depend on many factors, including the speed of the crash, the angle of impact, and how far along you are in your pregnancy. Any car accident will be a jolt to your system. Some of the force from the impact could affect a developing baby.

If you are in the early stages of pregnancy, up to about the end of your first trimester, your baby is reasonably (though not entirely) protected in a crash. Because the baby is in an early stage of development, the baby is not very large and is better cushioned from the force of the collision. While the mother may suffer some injuries, her child will likely be fine unless the mother’s injuries are so severe that they impact critical bodily functions.

The developing baby is more susceptible to injury as pregnancy progresses, particularly in the second and third trimesters. In a crash, a pregnant woman in the driver’s seat could find herself caught between an airbag and her seat, putting dangerous pressure on the baby.

Additionally, the force of the impact may be enough to cause the placenta to detach from the uterus or the uterus itself to tear. These injuries can be deadly to both a mother and her child. Lastly, a mother who suffers severe internal bleeding in an accident could develop maternal shock. This condition causes the body to give the mother additional blood and other nutrients at the baby’s expense.

What Are the Chances of Being Involved in a Traffic Accident While Pregnant?

While being pregnant doesn’t necessarily make it more likely that you’ll be involved in an accident, the sheer number of accidents every year means it’s inevitable that some crash victims are pregnant women. The statistics concerning pregnant women involved in accidents are scary, to say the least.

According to a study from the University of Michigan, about 6-7 percent of all pregnant women are involved in a car crash every year. That amounts to about 170,000 accidents every year involving women who are pregnant.

The University of Michigan researchers also reported that pregnant women not wearing their seatbelts is a significant cause of severe health complications or death for a developing baby. The study says that wearing seatbelts properly could save at least 200 babies every year. Researchers also reported that proper seatbelt usage could prevent around 84 percent of all serious injuries or fetal deaths each year.

There are also grim statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A report from the CDC says between 1-3 percent of all babies are exposed to a motor-vehicle crash during development. The CDC also reports that motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic fetal deaths and a leading cause of injuries and death for pregnant women.

Are Auto Accidents Associated with Pregnancy Complications?

Some of the potential complications that can occur if you’re involved in a car accident while pregnant include:

• Going into labor early
• Miscarriage or stillbirth
• Severe internal or external bleeding
• Congenital disabilities
• Maternal shock, a condition that occurs when a mother loses so much blood that her heart function is affected, leading the body to redirect nutrients from the baby to the mother
• Placental disruption
• Uterine rupture, a condition in which a crash causes the wall of the uterus to tear, usually leading to the baby’s death

Which Injuries Make a Pregnant Woman Eligible to File a Georgia Car Crash Injury Claim?

Any injuries you or your unborn child suffer in a car accident could make you eligible for a personal injury lawsuit. Some of these injuries could include:

• Any physical injuries a pregnant mother suffers directly
• Harm to a developing placenta
• Direct trauma to the baby
• Complications caused by a rupture of the uterus
• Complications caused by maternal shock

You may also be able to seek compensation for other kinds of losses resulting from the accident, such as:

• Your medical bills, including the cost of future care
• Your lost wages while you were receiving treatment
• Emotional distress related to your child’s injuries or death
• Pain and suffering from your own injuries

Steps to Take After a Georgia Car Accident

Here are a few steps you can take to help avoid severe injuries if you’re in a car accident while pregnant:

• Do not drive yourself, especially in your second or third trimester. Ride in the passenger seat or the back so you and your child are better protected if a crash occurs.
• See a doctor immediately after an accident, no matter how minor it may seem. You want to be sure you and your child are fine, so contact your obstetrician as soon as you can.
• Contact a lawyer. You may be facing significant medical expenses and other losses. A lawyer can begin preparing your claim.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer in Georgia

The injuries from a car accident while pregnant can be devastating for both you and your unborn child. If you have been involved in a collision while pregnant, the Athens personal injury lawyer R. Alan Cleveland, LLC can help you seek fair compensation for your injuries. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. Athens car accident lawyer.