Can You Sue for Pregnancy Complications if You’re in a Car Accident?
Car accidents can be painful, emotionally traumatizing, financially costly, and sometimes deadly. While many injuries are caused by the make of the vehicles involved in the crash or the speed at which they were going, certain individuals may face a higher risk of injuries than others.
Pregnant car accident victims are not only more vulnerable to injury but the lives of their unborn children may also be endangered as well.
With that in mind, what legal options does a pregnant car accident victim have if they or their unborn baby is severely hurt? What if the accident causes a miscarriage?
If a passenger suffers an injury as a result of another driver’s negligence, then they may seek compensation with a car accident claim. If those injuries are more severe, then they may, in turn, seek additional damages, regardless of whether or not the increased severity was linked to pregnancy.
Similarly, if a car accident injures or claims the life of an unborn baby, then the at-fault parties may be held accountable for that as well. The charges of injury or wrongful death can be added to any other list of demands for compensation in settlement negotiations. In especially appalling cases, it may also be possible to sue for punitive damages.
What Pregnancy Complications Might Arise as a Result of a Car Crash?
The severity of an injury to an unborn child in a car accident depends largely upon the stage of the pregnancy and the speed of the vehicles involved in the collision. The general health of the pregnant passenger/driver must also be considered.
A miscarriage is not altogether uncommon for pregnant car wreck victims. The miscarriage might occur if the pregnant passenger’s stomach is punctured or slammed against something. A miscarriage might also happen if the force of the collision is so great that it causes amniotic fluid to leak.
Car accidents can also be the cause of premature births. While a child may survive a premature birth and go on to live a long life, many premature births result in health problems.
Internal injuries, like punctured organs and internal bleeding, can affect both the adult and the child. It is possible to survive such injuries, but the road to recovery can be long.
Forceful trauma can cause the placenta to tear away from the uterine wall. This can be life-threatening to both mother and child. If there is any hope of saving the baby, doctors will be forced to deliver it as soon as possible, regardless of it being a potentially premature birth.
Rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding, and uterine contractions can also result from car accidents. Other health ailments of the pregnant victim may be exacerbated due to the accident, thus further threatening the child’s life in turn.
What Symptoms Should a Pregnant Car Crash Victim Look Out for After an Accident?
If you’ve been in a car accident while pregnant, the very first thing you should do is seek medical attention for yourself and your baby. It doesn’t matter if you’re experiencing no symptoms; you need to see a doctor. Some health risks may not present themselves until much later; by then, it may be too late for your little one.
Even if your doctor says that all is well, there are still a number of symptoms that you should be watchful for.
Worrying symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain.
- Bruising on the belly.
- Dizzy spells.
- Fetal movement changes.
- Headaches, occasionally migraines.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Unusual swelling.
- Vaginal bleeding.
What Potential Damages Could You Recover Following a Successful Lawsuit?
If you’re injured in a car accident due to another person’s negligent actions, you may be able to recover financial compensation by filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit. If you mean to pursue compensation, we strongly recommend that you consider hiring an experienced car accident lawyer to help you with your case.
With a successful case, a pregnant car accident victim may be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may include compensation for lost wages, property damage, and medical expenses for the care of you and your baby. If the child survives but is badly injured, calculations may be made to cover the cost of raising a child with a serious injury or special needs.
Non-economic damages may include compensation for emotional pain and suffering, the psychological trauma of losing a child, lost quality of life, lost companionship, and mental anguish.
To better understand what your case may be worth, please speak with an attorney.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with Experienced Car Accident Attorneys Today
At our law firm, we have years of experience representing victims of personal injuries, both minor and severe. And though every case is unique, and we seek to provide every client with compassion and respect, our heart positively breaks for those clients who have lost a child. And the grief of parents who never got to know their children is a unique type of pain to endure. As your legal representatives, we want to help you through this difficult time of mourning, rage, injury, and loss.
Contact our law offices today to schedule your free consultation with our legal team. We will do everything within our power to help you recover the maximum compensation for your case. Call us today at (919) 277-0150.