Pregnancy is an exciting time for mothers-to-be, and they take the utmost care in ensuring the safety of their unborn child, but traumatic events can still happen. Nobody can prepare for accidents like dog bites or car crashes, but when you’re pregnant, these situations become much more stressful.
Between 5% and 7% of all pregnancies are complicated by injuries, with trauma in pregnancy ranking as the leading cause of fetal deaths, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Unintentional injuries during pregnancy can be caused by a multitude of things, but are most often caused by motor vehicle crashes or slip-and-falls.
Injuries Pregnant Women Could Sustain in an Accident
If an expectant mother is involved in a traumatic event, it greatly increases her chances of pregnancy complications. When it comes to car accidents, drivers that are pregnant are 42% more likely to be in a motor vehicle accident than non-pregnant female drivers.
While there is a wide variety of injuries that could result from an accident, pregnant women are at a higher risk of:
- Birth defects
- PTSD
- Miscarriage
- Premature Delivery
- Stillbirth
- Fetal trauma
- Placental abruption
- Internal bleeding
While these injuries could be obtained during any kind of accident, motor vehicle crashes account for more than 50% of all trauma during pregnancy. Incorrect seat belt use can increase the risk of intrauterine and fetal death. Lap belts should be placed below the protruding abdomen and the shoulder belt should be placed to the side of the uterus to reduce the risk of injury.
How to Recover Compensation for Injuries Acquired During Pregnancy
If another party was responsible for an accident resulting in the injury of a pregnant woman, that party should be responsible for compensation of injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you could seek financial compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages, including future lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Long-term disability
- Wrongful death
Medical expenses are inherently higher when the victim is expecting, because both mother and baby will need to be assessed and monitored closely by medical personnel. Insurance companies almost never offer a settlement that fully compensates a victim’s expenses or what they’re entitled to, because they seek to preserve their bottom line first and foremost. The only way to ensure you get the lawful compensation you deserve is to partner with a law firm that has your best interests in mind.
Hire a Skilled California Personal Injury Attorney for Your Pregnancy Injury
With Setareh Law, you can count on us to fight for the compensation that you and your baby deserve. Our attorneys have a proven track record of representing California residents in all types of personal injury claims, but when it comes to pregnancy injuries, we want nothing more than to see you receive justice for your pain.
Setareh Law has recovered millions of dollars for injured victims all over the state. Bring your case to us and we’ll evaluate the evidence pertaining to your accident and relentlessly pursue for the compensation you’re due. Call (310) 659-1826 or complete one of our online contact forms today to schedule a free case evaluation for your personal injury case.