Car Accidents and Pregnant Women

Many women do everything possible to keep their children safe and happy. They'll attend conferences with their school teachers to make sure they're fitting in well in school, make sure they eat healthy foods and get lots of exercise and ensure that they're traveling safely and securely in a proper car seat to avoid injury in the event of an accident. Infant and child car seats save countless lives each year. But what can be done to ensure that a pregnant woman and her unborn child is protected in the event of a car accident?

It's estimated that as many as 1,000 unborn children die in car crashes each year in the United States, that's about four times more than the fatality rate for children ages four and under. And while research institutes are currently testing and analyzing better ways to protect pregnant women in auto accidents, the best means of currently preventing fetus fatality is safe driving and not getting into an accident altogether. Yes, for now pregnant women are especially vulnerable when it comes to driving or riding in a vehicle.

Here's a look at reasons behind the high mortality rate of unborn children in vehicle accidents:

There are several notable health risks associated with pregnant women and car accidents, the most significant of which includes potential for the placenta to detach from a woman's uterus. It's a delicate attachment, meaning that it doesn't take a whole lot of force for detachment to occur. In the event of a placenta-uterine detachment, the fetus is deprived of oxygen, which is essential to its development as well as its survival. Often times this occurs when the pregnant woman is driving and the impact from the accident sends her stomach into the unforgiving steering wheel. The larger a woman's baby bump, the closer it is to the steering wheel, so the further along a woman is in pregnancy, the more likely the risk of injuring or losing the child in an accident. This type of incident is responsible for about 80 percent of fetus fatalities pertaining to car accidents.

Seat belts: Like any other car passenger, it's essential to wear seatbelts to prevent potential injury in a car accident. It's also recommended that pregnant women wear the shoulder-strap seatbelt and lap-belt, rather than just the lap belt. However, discomfort and lack of vehicle seat belt options can also play a role in fetus mortality.

It's also very possible, that even if the car accident was minor, the pregnant woman may have still sustained damage to her unborn child. This can occur in cases of abrupt stopping, which can lead to contra-coup. Contra coup is injury to a side of an organ, which can cause a trickle-down effect to an unborn child. (Read on for more signs and symptoms of potential risks following a seemingly minor accident.)

Did you know that the leading cause of death for pregnant women is car accidents? It's true, more pregnant women die in car accidents than they due from pregnancy or birth complications. And this has an impact on their unborn child, as fetuses rely on their mothers for oxygen. A lack of oxygen for even a short amount of time could result in brain damage. A prolonged lack of oxygen can be fatal. Remember, the mother is essentially the lifeblood of her unborn child, so damage to the mother means possible damage to the child she carries.

The verdict is still out on reasonable vehicle safety enhancements (and even when they are discovered, the development cycle of an automobile is three to four years, so it will likely be several years before its widely implemented) to protect pregnant women and their unborn children, but generally speaking, a few tips can help increase safety. For instance, if possible, pregnant women should try to ride as a passenger, not as the driver, to eliminate the threat of placenta-uterine detachment from the impact of the steering wheel. Also, properly buckling in with the shoulder strap and lap belt and riding in a vehicle with airbags increases the likelihood of survival for both the passengers in the vehicle and the unborn child that a pregnant woman is carrying. Finally, immediately phoning 911 after a serious accident is important, as the immediate minutes are crucial to ensuring the stability of both the mother and her child to-be. Seeking emergency medical help is even more crucial if the pregnant passenger were to pass out, experience bleeding, experience pain in the stomach, abdomen and/or pelvis area and experience a loss of fluid or signs of early or premature labor. Some signs and symptoms may not immediately occur after an accident, but in the hours and days following one. In addition to the above signs and symptoms that we've already listed, other signs include dizziness, vomiting, painful urination, frequent headaches, swelling in the face or fingers or a change in the frequency and/or force of your unborn child's movements.

Yes, there's little that can currently be done to protect an unborn child in the event of a car accident. And even when a viable option is discovered, it will still be several years before it becomes available in everyday vehicles, due to the lengthy product development process involved in vehicle design and engineering. But if you or a pregnant woman that you know has sustained injury either to yourself or to your unborn child, contact us today, our car accident lawyers are here to help. Our car accident attorney will go over your case with you, help you understand your rights and help you make a decision on whether or not to pursue an accident case.

We understand that injury, either to you or your unborn child, can be a difficult and traumatic time, which is why we'll treat you with empathy and respect as we hear you out and present you with your options. Call us today to speak with our experts about the details of your situation.

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