What to Do If You Were in a Car Accident While Pregnant
Auto accidents can be stressful and scary, but an auto accident while you are pregnant can be a terrifying experience for an expectant mother. You have not only your health and safety to worry about but also the safety of your unborn child. A car accident while pregnant should never be ignored or brushed off, no matter how minor it may seem.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, car accidents are the largest single cause of traumatic fetal injury and mortality, and of the 200,000 pregnant women involved in police-reported accidents, estimates suggest that between 2500 and 5000 fetal losses occur yearly.
It may not occur to a pregnant mother who has experienced an accident that there may be adverse outcomes resulting in disabilities. When involved in an accident while pregnant, it is important to remember that you may feel fine and not show any signs of injury, but your baby could be at risk. It may seem that filing an insurance claim with the at-fault parties’ insurance is the best course of action, but that could get much more complicated if your baby is injured or born with a disability.
Steps to Take After an Accident While Pregnant
When you are involved in an accident while pregnant, it is important to ensure that you and your baby are safe. Below are steps to protect your and your unborn child’s safety.
Contact the Police
Calling the police is crucial after you have been in an accident and have ensured your vehicle and you are safe. Do not speak to the other driver or admit guilt. It is important not to talk to the other driver about the accident or admit guilt. When emergency workers arrive, alert them that you are pregnant so they can assess your and your baby’s condition.
Only discuss the accident with the police and ask for a police report, so you have it for your records.
Gather Information
Gather any information relevant to the accident, including the other driver’s contact and insurance information, and if the driver says anything that you feel is relevant or an admission of guilt, make a note of what was said and when. If you are feeling well enough, take pictures of the damage to the vehicles and the scene of the accident. If there are witnesses, collect their names and contact information because all this information will help when filing an insurance claim.
See a Doctor
If you are seriously injured, allow emergency personnel to take you to the nearest hospital to treat your injuries and monitor fetal activity and movement. If you do not feel injured, make an appointment with your OBGYN so they can assess your baby in-depth for any changes or issues that the accident may have caused.
Contact an Attorney
Contact the attorneys at Charles Boyk who have experience dealing with insurance companies on behalf of pregnant women and their babies.
Experiencing an auto accident while pregnant can result in physical and emotional trauma that can also affect your unborn child. An accident can cause financial stress due to time off work, worrying about your baby’s health after the accident, or the anxiety of insurance companies calling, which can cause complications.
Contact our Attorneys at Charles Boyk for a free consultation of your case. Our auto accident attorneys may be able to recover expenses related to the accident, such as medical costs and time away from work if you or your unborn child were injured.
