The Complex and Far-Reaching Implications of a Car Accident While Pregnant

Expecting a child is one of the happiest moments in any couple’s life. The promise of passing something of yourself to future generations and nurturing a child is, possibly, the ultimate fulfillment for many people. However, as a Fayetteville car accident lawyer knows, these hopes can be crushed in a moment. Too many pregnant women suffer horrible injuries in car accidents.

These injuries may have a significant impact on the unborn child. A woman may suffer a miscarriage after being in a car accident while pregnant. In other cases, the child is left with impairments that will reduce his/her quality of life after birth. Doctors may have to remove the child to save the mother’s life.

These are some of the most heartbreaking cases for any Fayetteville car accident lawyer. They are made worse by the callous attitude of insurance companies. As soon as they notice that a pregnant woman is involved in a traffic accident, they will try to settle the case as soon as possible. They know that the economic damages alone can be very high in such cases.

What Are the Risks for Pregnant Women While Driving or as Passengers in Cars?

Every year around 170,000 women are involved in car accidents while pregnant. Out of all these cases, between 300 and 5,000 unborn babies lose their life.

Also, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine publishes an extensive study involving nearly 900,000 pregnant women. The researchers found out that car accidents represent the number one trauma leading to hospitalization for pregnant women.

All these data show a sad reality: pregnant women are extremely vulnerable and prone to severe injuries in car accidents. The worst possible outcome is when both the mother and the unborn child both lose their lives.

Complications of Being in a Car Accident While Pregnant

Pregnant women can suffer specific complications besides injuries commonly associated with a car crash, like fractures, whiplash, back injury, head injuries, and neck injuries. These complications are directly related to their condition and can have a devastating impact on both the expectant mother and her unborn baby.

Some of these complications include:

  • Immediate miscarriage
  • Premature birth through forced C-section
  • Pelvis fracture leading to miscarriage in many cases
  • Placental abruption
  • Fetal trauma
  • Birth defects.

Many women involved in a car accident while pregnant will develop a high-risk pregnancy, which requires constant monitoring.

As any Fayetteville car accident lawyer knows, these specific injuries translate into very high medical care bills. And this is why insurance adjusters will try to pressure pregnant women into accepting a quick settlement and signing the document that takes away any chance of future financial recovery.

car crashes are very dangerous for pregnant women

What Does a Fayetteville Car Accident Lawyer Need to Win Your Case?

The special condition of the accident victim also requires specific evidence to support the letter of demand sent to the insurance company. First of all, the lawyer will need to present the basic proof as in any personal injury case.

  • That the at-fault driver owed you a duty of care.
  • That they breached their duty through negligence causing the accident.
  • That you and the unborn baby suffered injuries as a result of the accident.
  • That these injuries resulted in damages, such as medical bills, pain and suffering, etc.

Now, in a car accident while pregnant, the victim must also produce the following types of evidence.

  • Medical reports proving the pregnancy
  • Medical reports indicating the impact of the accident on the pregnancy
  • Expert medical reports describing the extent of the injuries to the fetus
  • Ultrasound pictures showing the pregnancy before and after the accident

We know this appears as a horrible intrusion into the most personal part of your life. But insurance companies will not show you any compassion and understanding. A Fayetteville car accident lawyer must have solid evidence supporting every single dollar they demand in compensation.

Can You File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit for Miscarriage Caused by a Crash?

Despite all the doctors’ efforts, some unborn babies simply do not survive the trauma of a car accident. The devastating effects of such a loss are hard to describe in words. And nothing a Fayetteville car accident lawyer does will bring back that tiny life growing in your womb.

However, you have the right to seek financial damages from the at-fault driver, both for your financial losses and for your pain and suffering. In this situation, you will need a compassionate and experienced lawyer.

The fact is that the state of Georgia has a very specific rule for filing a wrongful death lawsuit for the death of an unborn child. According to Georgia laws, the fetus must have a “detectable human heartbeat.”

A human heartbeat is defined as “embryonic or fetal cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the heart within the gestational sac.”

Let a Compassionate Fayetteville Car Accident Lawyer Handle Your Case

The consequences of a car accident while pregnant can affect two or more lives. Some pregnant women lose their unborn baby or babies. Others will give birth to children with permanent disabilities or impairments. Thus, a car accident involving a pregnant woman poses specific difficulties for Fayetteville accident attorneys.

With over 70 years of combined legal experience, Wade Law is capable of handling such difficult cases, both at a professional and a human level. We will treat you with compassion and fight to obtain the maximum compensation you deserve. We will not let an insurance adjuster harass you and try to force your hand into accepting a lowball amount.

Since the process is so much more complex in these cases, we encourage you to schedule a free case review with us as soon as possible after your accident. We will examine the evidence carefully and represent you on a contingency fee basis. That means you only pay once we win compensation for you.

Call us today at 770-282-1188 for a free consultation!

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