zofran-pregnant-cleft-lipThere are additional risks on the road for any pregnant woman and her unborn child. And there are legal implications when a pregnant woman is in a car accident.

These cases are terrible and, unfortunately, not all that rare. Car crashes are the largest single cause of death for pregnant women and the leading cause of traumatic fetal injury mortality in the United States. (source)

Even small crashes can lead to serious injury, including:

  • Premature birth
  • Miscarriage
  • Cesarean section
  • Hemorrhaging
  • Birth defects
  • Placental abruption (the placenta detaches from the womb)

There are 3 things every pregnant woman should do after an accident:

  1. If possible, document the crash.
    Take photos, get a police report, and exchange insurance information with the other driver. If you’re with someone else, ideally they can do this while you get immediate medical attention.
  2. See a doctor.
    It doesn’t matter how small the accident; this should be non-negotiable. With expectant mothers, even fender benders can be a big deal. You should tell the doctor exactly what happened. They will likely want to monitor your baby’s development more carefully all the way through the pregnancy.
  3. Contact an attorney.
    If the accident was your fault, your insurance should cover it. But if anyone else was even partly responsible, it can get very complicated quickly. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of injury and may need more than the usual treatment to monitor their health, even if there wasn’t obvious trauma on the scene. God forbid, there’s also the possibility of fetal injury. These are high stakes, and you simply must not go it alone.

You don’t want to be stuck with the bill on an accident like this, and you definitely don’t need more to worry about during your pregnancy. A trustworthy personal injury lawyer will handle the burden for you and help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Our Memphis personal injury lawyers are compassionate and experienced in complicated car accident cases like this. We don’t receive any compensation unless you do, and we’re wholly dedicated to you and your case.

If someone you love is pregnant, will you pass this information on to them so they know what to do if they happen to be in an accident?

And if you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact our attorneys today. We’re ready to help.