Many pregnant women go to great lengths to take care of themselves and their babies—from eliminating alcohol, avoiding certain foods, staying away from tobacco, and getting an adequate amount of sleep each night. Yet what might be overlooked is the dangers of driving every day. In fact, roughly 3,000 pregnancies are lost every year due to a car accident. And according to the United States National Library of Medicine, motor vehicle crashes are the largest cause of death for pregnant women and the leading cause of traumatic fetal injury mortality in the country.
Pregnant women who are involved in car accidents are not only at a greater risk of serious injuries but may also experience higher health care costs. This is because pregnant women have frequent required doctor’s visits, more monitoring, and may need to have their baby treated for injuries as well as themselves. In this regard, a pregnant woman injured in a collision may be entitled to greater compensation than expected. If you are in a car accident, reach out to lawsuitinfocenter.com for more information on your settlement injury worth and making sure you get the compensation you are entitled to.
Pregnant women can experience many different types of injuries as a result of a car crash. Some of the possible injuries include coup and contrecoup injuries, fetal trauma, premature birth, and high-risk pregnancy. Placental abruption, maternal shock, and maternal death are the most likely to result in fetal death. Even if the mother-to-be isn’t injured in the car accident or the car isn’t damaged, her fetus may still be hurt by a sudden stopping motion or quick jolt. So if you are involved in a car accident—even a minor one—check into your reproductive health center to make sure everything is okay.
Below we have outlined a few other possible pregnancy injuries caused by vehicle accidents.
Placental Abruption
This is the most common and most life-threatening injury a pregnant woman can experience from a car accident. While the rate of maternal death is low, fetal death is high. Placental abruption is when the placenta partially or completely detaches from the uterine wall. This serious condition is more likely to occur if an expectant mother suffers an injury to her abdomen. Placental abruption cuts off blood flow to the placenta and endangers a baby’s health. It also puts the mother’s health at risk as it can cause internal bleeding, dizziness, and extreme abdominal pain.
Miscarriage
Having a miscarriage after a car accident is considered rare since the baby is protected by amniotic fluid. However, a miscarriage is possible if the stomach or uterine is punctured or if the expectant mother goes into cardiac arrest and stops breathing. In some circumstances, a partial miscarriage may occur, where part of the fetal tissue is removed from the uterus.
Birth Defects
Injuries to the fetus or if the baby is born prematurely can cause birth defects. Birth defects do not always lead to disabilities. However, the risk of disabilities increases depending on the severity of the injuries and the earlier the baby is born.
Preventing Injuries
Reduce your risk of a car accident by always following the rules of the road and wearing your seatbelt. Pregnant women are more likely to get into car accidents than non-pregnant women, and this could be because of feeling sick, dizzy, or tired. Before getting behind the wheel, check-in with yourself to see how you feel. Are you tired? Nauseous? Lacking focus? If so, rest, drink water or have a snack before deciding to drive. Finally, eliminate any distractions. Turn off your cell phone, don’t eat, and don’t fuss with the radio. Concentrating on the road should be your priority when driving.