What Happens if I am Injured in a Car Accident While Pregnant?
Being involved in an automobile accident is a stressful and frightening ordeal. It is especially terrifying if you are pregnant and expecting a baby. Pregnant women and their unborn children are at greater risk for injury and death. Even accidents that occur at low speeds can be harmful to the mother and the baby. Knowing what to do immediately after an accident could be the difference between life—and death.
Medical attention should be sought out immediately in any automobile accident where injuries are sustained, and this is especially true if you are pregnant. Even if you do not believe that you are injured, it is important to be thoroughly examined by a medical professional. It will be necessary to have you and your unborn child monitored for complications, including bleeding, contractions, early labor, decreased fetal movement, PIH, and more.
The sudden forces that occur during a car accident, or from slamming on your breaks, can also cause placental eruption. Placental eruption is when the placenta is separated from the uterus and this can result in a miscarriage, pre term labor/delivery, or hemorrhaging.
A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that pregnant woman involved in car accidents, had elevated rates of preterm birth, placental abruption, and premature rupture of the membranes, compared to pregnant woman who were not involved in an automobile accident. The study also states that automobile accidents are even more hazardous for pregnancy women who are not wearing seat belts. The stillbirth rate for women involved in unbelted car accidents was three times as high as the stillbirth rate following a crash where the pregnant women were wearing seatbelts.
By adhering to some simple safety tips it could decrease your chance of severe injuries should an accident occur during pregnancy. While traveling, wear your seatbelt properly at all times, never turn off the airbag function in the car, ride in the backseat if at all possible (as it is the safest place to be in the event of a car accident), and make sure your seat is properly adjusted to accommodate you growing belly.
If you or someone you love is injured in a car accident in Boulder, Broomfield, Longmont, Westminster, or anywhere in the State of Colorado, you need an experienced Boulder car accident lawyer on your side. The injury attorneys at Goff & Goff are available 24/7 to review your case. Call us today at 303-415-9688 for a free initial consultation.