Pregnant Women Injured in Car Accidents

When pregnant women are involved in car accidents, they face additional risks to their unborn children and themselves. Expectant mothers often focus on making the best possible health choices and avoid any dangerous circumstances. Driving in an automobile is a necessary risk that most pregnant women must take to get to and from work, home, and doctor's appointments. Unfortunately, being involved in a car accident places expectant mothers at a higher risk of several types of injuries.

If you are a pregnant woman and you or your child have suffered injuries resulting from a car accident, the attorneys are Arnold & Smith, PLLC can help. We will advise you as to your legal right to compensation. If another driver's negligence caused the car accident that resulted in your injuries, you might be entitled to monetary compensation. In North Carolina, successful car accident plaintiffs can recover compensation for their medical costs, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages. Our compassionate attorneys will advise you as to your best legal options to recover compensation for your injuries.

Sadly, being pregnant can put the mother and her unborn child at a higher risk of some injuries. Providing emergency medical care to pregnant women presents its challenges. In many instances, the trauma of a car accident can cover up the symptoms of medical conditions. Emergency personnel must attempt to treat the pregnant woman and her unborn child.

If a pregnant woman is in the third trimester, the size of her pregnant stomach may present challenges, especially if she is stuck inside the vehicle after the car accident. Emergency medical personnel must transport a pregnant woman to a hospital with specialists as soon as possible. Emergency medical personnel may not have all of the tools they need to treat the mother and unborn child properly.

The extent of the injuries pregnant women sustain in car accidents depends on the stage of their pregnancy, the severity of the car accident, and any pre-existing conditions. The following complications could result from a pregnant woman’s involvement in a car accident.

• Premature birth could occur as a result of the trauma of a car accident. Any delivery that takes place before 37 weeks of gestation is premature. The earlier the birth, the higher the risk that the baby will face medical complications. The dangers of extreme premature birth include cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and other chronic breathing and digestive medical issues.

• Sadly, miscarriage can happen as a result of a severe car accident. If the force of the car accident causes the amniotic fluid to leak, the unborn child might perish as a result. If the mother's stomach suffers a blow or is punctured by a sharp object by the car accident, a miscarriage could occur.

• Pregnant women involved in car accidents might experience internal injuries. Both the unborn child and the pregnant woman could suffer from perforated organs, internal bleeding, or hemorrhaging as a result of the force of impact.

• Placental abruption is a dangerous condition that can result from a car accident. A traumatic event could result in a pregnant woman's placenta tearing away from her uterine wall. Placental abruption places the pregnant woman and unborn child in grave danger. Doctors are often forced to deliver the unborn baby no matter the gestational age when placental abruption occurs.

Most pregnant mothers are focused on making sure that their unborn child remains safe and protected. When a car accident steals that security and results in injuries to mothers and their children, they may have a right to compensation. If another driver's negligent or reckless driving caused the accident, the at-fault party can be held liable to compensate the victim for her injuries.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC our experienced Charlotte car accident attorneys treat all of our clients with the respect and attention they deserve. We fight assertively on behalf of our clients to receive the compensation that they are entitled to. We empathize with the difficulty of recovering physically and emotionally from serious injuries. With offices conveniently located in Mecklenburg County, Iredell County and Union County it has never been easier to visit our law firm for your free initial consultation.