Pregnant women must carry on their lives during pregnancy, which includes getting behind the wheel of a car. 2.9 percent of pregnant women are involved in car accidents during their pregnancy. A car accident can do much more than just injure a pregnant woman. Her unborn child may also be at risk.
Up to 5,000 pregnancies are lost each year due to auto accidents. If you are a pregnant woman and your unborn child was harmed in a car accident, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys attorneys can help you and your family.
Car Accidents Are Very Dangerous for Unborn Children
Although all children are at risk in a car accident, there is an even higher risk to unborn children. The fetus depends entirely on the mother for all nutrition before birth.
The most severe risk is that the placenta can separate from the uterus. This extremely dangerous condition is called placental abruption. The fetus will need to be immediately delivered through emergency surgery if it is viable. Otherwise, the unborn child can not receive nutrients at all.
Placental abruption is also dangerous because it will lead to a cutoff of the fetus’ oxygen. Even a momentary stoppage of oxygen can lead to permanent brain damage.
Other Risks From a Car Accident to a Pregnancy
In addition, a car accident while pregnant can cause the following risks to the pregnancy:
- Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is high blood pressure as the mother gets closer to term, which can injure both the mother and child
- Preterm labor: The shock to the mother’s body may cause her to go into labor, even before the fetus is viable and can survive on its own.
- Internal bleeding: This type of bleeding can harm the mother’s health to the point where she is unable to continue the pregnancy, or it can interfere with the flow of oxygen to the unborn child.
- Miscarriages and stillbirths: The trauma to the fetus can result in the death of the unborn child.
The risk to the unborn child increases the further into the pregnancy you are. The more developed the baby, the more likely they can be directly impacted by the physical trauma of the car accident.
Seek Immediate Care After the Car Accident
It is always a good idea for a mother to get immediate medical care and see the OB/GYN right after a car accident. The doctor will perform a full battery of tests on the unborn child, including an ultrasound and a possible amniotic fluid check. This way, the doctor can take quick action if there is any risk to the unborn child’s life.
Any type of accident where the mother’s body moves against the seat belt or where the airbag calls for an immediate visit to the OB/GYN because of the possible trauma to the fetus. You should not wait for symptoms to show up because it may be too late. You may even want to get immediately checked out by first responders at the scene.
Families Can Be Compensated After Losing an Unborn Child
If you suffered a miscarriage as a result of a car accident, you could be entitled to financial compensation for both the damage to your health and the loss of your unborn child. You may even file a wrongful death claim for the loss of your unborn child.
In North Carolina, the viability of the fetus is the line for filing a wrongful death lawsuit when something happens to your unborn child. Usually, viability occurs around six months into the pregnancy. Filing a wrongful death claim will increase your family’s compensation. If your child were born with medical problems as a result of the car accident injury, the responsible party would need to pay those costs for as long as your child needs care.
Even if the fetus was not yet viable, you might still be entitled to financial compensation for its loss. Many families are never the same again after this type of loss. A mother who miscarried or lost an unborn child suffers severe emotional trauma and distress. These are compensable as part of your non-economic damages after a car accident.
In addition, you may also be compensated if the loss of the pregnancy harmed your ability to have children in the future. Our personal injury lawyers will review your specific situation to help maximize the damages that you may obtain. While the health of your unborn child can never be restored, you can be compensated for any injuries suffered.
Contact a Wilmington Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you or your unborn child have been harmed in a car accident, you need an experienced attorney to work for financial compensation. You may be entitled to a significant amount of money if you can prove that the accident was someone else’s fault.
Call Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys, and we can discuss your legal options. To schedule your free initial consultation, you can send us a message online or call us today at (910) 668-8067.
Car Accident Case FAQs
How do I become eligible for financial compensation after a car accident?
You must show that they were negligent and acted unreasonably under the circumstances.
Does the responsible party need to pay for medical costs to treat the unborn child?
Yes. Any medical costs, whether to treat the mother or the unborn child, are the legal responsibility of the negligent driver.
How large will my settlement check be?
Everything depends on the specifics of your situation because your personal injury damages are based on your own individual damages. A lawyer can give you a better idea when they review your case.
