Car Accident Claims for Pregnant Women

A car accident during pregnancy can lead to devastating outcomes. If the auto collision was caused by someone else’s negligent actions, an expectant mother has the legal right to pursue compensation for her and her unborn child’s damages. No matter the circumstances, getting into a car collision is a traumatic and scary experience. This fear can multiply tenfold for pregnant women concerned not only for their own health but for the health and well-being of their baby.

Our law firm has represented many mothers-to-be injured in auto accidents in Maryland. There is typically no severe injury to the mother in most car accidents, and the mother’s injuries rarely meaningfully impact the unborn baby. But there are several more severe injuries pregnant women can suffer from a car collision.

If you or someone you love was injured while pregnant due to someone else’s negligence, let our knowledgeable auto accident attorneys in Baltimore help you through the process of filing a claim. Our goal is to help you recover the compensation you need for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages.

We offer a free consultation and there are no upfront fees.

Types of Injuries Suffered by Pregnant Women

The following are injuries commonly associated with the trauma of a car accident involving a pregnant woman:

• Miscarriage
• Fetal death
• Going into early labor
• Heavy bleeding
• Increased risks to the fetus

How a Car Accident Involving a Pregnant Woman Can Lead To More Damages

Nearly 200,000 pregnant women are injured in car collisions in the U.S. every year, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The injuries women sustain during these accidents are often serious and can potentially lead to abnormalities in their children after birth.

Placenta Abruption

When the placenta gets detached from the wall of the uterus before the baby is ready to be born, it is called placental abruption and it is one of the most serious injuries pregnant women involved in motor vehicle accidents will experience, even in some low-impact car wrecks. The risk of placental abruption significantly increases in high-impact crashes to about 30-50 percent.

When placental abruption occurs, it requires immediate medical intervention, such as a cesarean section operation to avoid further harm to the mother and fetus. Although C-Section operations may now be routine for many doctors, there is still a risk of infection, and the costs of an emergency C-Section are generally exponential. Common symptoms of placental abruption are:

• Pain in the lower back
• Uterine Contractions
• Heaving bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• The mother may experience dizziness or faint due to loss of blood
• The fetus may move erratically
• The mother may experience chills and fever

High-Risk Pregnancy

Expectant mothers involved in a car collision may also fall under the category of high-risk pregnancies due to the need for constant monitoring, even if the woman did not experience serious injuries during the car crash.

A doctor is likely to recommend additional ultrasounds and other tests throughout the course of your pregnancy to assure there are no unnecessary complications when it comes time for the birth of the child.

More visits to the doctor could lead to higher medical costs, especially if you need to be seen and cared for by a specialist, such as a gynecologist.

Fetal Damage

Injuries to the fetus in a car collision are rare but do happen. It is an intrauterine version of the shaken baby syndrome and can result in brain injuries. The result is that the baby’s cognitive ability may be affected, resulting in long-term care. In some cases, this care may be needed for the lifetime of the person. The cost of extended, special care may be costly and outside of many parents’ ability to pay. A lawsuit folded against the at-fault party may result in the financial resources necessary to handle the cost.

Coup and Contrecoup Injuries

If the pregnant woman involved in the car crash experiences a head injury, either by being impacted by a moving object or having her head smash into a stationary object, it could result in a coup or contrecoup injury.

The baby could also suffer this type of injury, which could result in something called “shaken baby syndrome: once the child is born. This is a serious brain injury that could lead to brain damage. An injury like this could cause long-lasting damage not only to the child, but also to the child’s parents or guardians who would bear the costs of medical attention for the future.

Our attorneys are prepared to help you gather the necessary evidence to help build a strong case on your behalf.

It is important to note that if a miscarriage occurs or a child is not born alive because of the injuries sustained in the car collision, it may be possible to seek compensation for wrongful death.

The Importance of Seeking Prompt Medical Attention

Regardless of whether an expecting mother notices any symptoms of injuries or even feels any pain following a car crash, it is crucial that they go to their primary care physician, gynecologist, or the emergency room as soon as reasonably possible. If nothing else, a timely checkup could confirm that nothing is wrong with mother or child, giving everyone peace of mind while they potentially pursue restitution for other accident-related damages.

If a pregnant woman or her baby did sustain harm in a car accident, though, immediate medical attention could make a world of difference in identifying injuries and minimizing the chances that they result in long-term harm. Any financial costs associated with this initial medical care could then be factored into an ensuing personal injury claim against the person responsible for the auto collision.

Can I Claim Emotional Damages for an Auto Accident While Pregnant?

Yes, you may be able to recover compensation for any pain and suffering you personally experienced due to the car collision.

Pain and suffering usually refers to any physical or emotional pain, and you would still need to prove it is a direct cause of the car wreck. For example, the physical pain you experience while healing from a C-Section.

If a woman miscarries due to her injuries in an auto collision, she still may be able to claim emotional damages if she can prove to the insurance company, or convince a jury, of her distress post-miscarriage.

What Damages Could Be Recoverable?

In addition to emergency medical expenses, various other forms of harm may qualify as recoverable losses during an auto accident claim prompted by pregnancy complications. On the more traditional side of things, any injuries that keep an expecting mother out of work, lead to her losing personal property, or which cause her physical or emotional pain could allow for increased recovery through a successful claim.

In more extreme situations, any long-term harm a mother or child suffers because of another party’s misconduct could be incorporated into a settlement demand or lawsuit as losses of future earning capacity, consortium, and/or enjoyment of life, as well as future costs for physical, developmental, occupational, and/or speech therapy necessitated by fetal injuries. Finally, in the worst-case scenario, the wrongful death of a fetus due to a car crash may warrant substantial financial recovery for ensuing financial, personal, and psychological harm.

We Are Ready To Help. Contact Us Today

Getting into a car accident while pregnant may seriously impact not only your health, but the health of your child after birth.

Call our knowledgeable attorneys at the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights. We are prepared to help maximize your compensation. Even though compensation will not make up for the trauma and worry, it can help you move forward and provide the funds for the medical care your baby may require. If this happens to you or a loved one, call us at 443-844-1528 anytime day or night. We can also be reached by email at carol@littaccidentlaw.com.