DC Car Accident While Pregnant
Driving accidents pose a risk to everyone. Whether you are old, young, or a perfectly healthy adult, a car accident can throw off the course of your life in an instant. Thus, a DC car accident while pregnant is particularly frightening. We have a great deal of experience handling car accident cases involving pregnant women. In many cases, fortunately, the accident has no impact on the pregnancy. But if it does, issues can quickly arise, necessitating quick action from a skilled DC car accident lawyer. An accident while pregnant can trigger an array of legal and medical concerns. Moreover, as a pregnant woman, you have to worry about not just your health but the health of your unborn child.
There are countless implications to keep track of. Thus, the first thing we recommend you do is seek medical attention. If you are seriously ill, you must go to the hospital immediately.
Even if your condition is less dire, we strongly recommend meeting with your personal doctor right away. Your personal doctor, who is familiar with your medical history, can provide the best guidance and care in this situation. Furthermore, while you may feel fine, such a severe collision can affect your body, which you may at first overlook. Accordingly, it is our job as car accident lawyers helping with a pregnant injury claim to thoroughly investigate the medical records related to the accident and fight for compensation to cover all of your past and future medical expenses. Anticipating future medical expenses after a car accident while you are pregnant can be difficult. This is why it is sometimes beneficial to wait until after the delivery of your child to consider any settlement offers.
Understanding the Risks of a Car Accident While Pregnant
Understanding the risks of a car accident while pregnant will aid you in your recovery process. If you are in a DC car accident while pregnant, you must understand the risks that are unique to you. Of course, everyone faces risks in a car accident. Common risks include getting into an accident where no driver has insurance coverage. In such cases, you will be stuck paying your medical expenses with your health insurance. However, you face a heightened level of risk while pregnant.
One common risk you should be aware of is the seatbelt. When you are riding in a car, it is common sense to wear your seatbelt. But the way you wear it matters when you are pregnant. If you are in an accident and the seatbelt is pulling on your abdomen, you may suffer worse effects from the accident. Thus, experts generally advise wearing the seatbelt below your belly so it does not rest and pull on you if you are in an accident or the driver suddenly brakes
Overview
The risks while pregnant in a car accident are endless. Of course, if you are close to term, an accident may force an early delivery. That is the last thing you want. Suppose we can prove that the accident caused those damages. In that case, we can hold the defendant accountable so long as the doctor is willing to testify that the accident caused the early delivery or termination of the pregnancy. But how does a car accident cause these complications? Whiplash is one example. For someone who is not pregnant, whiplash can cause problems for your neck and back. But when you are pregnant, the shifted center of gravity in pregnant women can cause additional issues for your pregnancy.
Additionally, abdominal injuries of any kind can harm the baby during pregnancy. Whether it is the airbag or some other piece of debris inside the car, any physical collision with your abdomen can spell trouble for the health and well-being of your baby.
Miscarriage
The first heartbreaking complication that may arise from a DC car accident while pregnant is a miscarriage. Severe trauma can lead to miscarriage, especially during the first trimester. The key, in this instance, is to prove the causal link between the car accident and the termination of the pregnancy. If we can establish this causal link, the question becomes what the value of the loss is. Of course, this is a nearly impossible question to answer. The loss of human life is something that no juror should be asked to quantify. And yet, that is the nature of our justice system.
Preterm Labor
On the flip side of a miscarriage is preterm labor. Stress from an accident can trigger contractions and lead to premature delivery. This can cause significant health issues for the child. It may take some time to understand precisely what those issues are and whether they were legally caused by the car accident, but that is something our car accident attorneys have vast experience handling.
Fetal Trauma
A third complication to consider is fetal trauma. The fetus can be directly or physically injured by a direct blow to the mother’s abdomen. If this occurs, you can suffer a range of complications. It is best to discuss these complications with your doctor first. Then, contact an attorney at Gelb & Gelb, P.C. to better understand your legal options and to hold the tortfeasor responsible for the trauma you have suffered. Fetal trauma due to someone else’s negligence, whether they are texting and driving or driving while drunk, is not something you or your baby should have to pay the consequences for. If they are drunk driving, then they will face criminal charges. But that does not mean you should be stuck handling your medical costs alone. Fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact our office today for a free consultation.
Seeking Compensation
If we can prove the defendant acted negligently and was the proximate cause of your injuries, we can make a claim against their insurance. We file suit in the appropriate court if we cannot settle that case. The question then becomes what your case is worth. In general, you are entitled to past and future medical expenses, lost wages, the loss of future earning capacity, and pain and suffering. However, the complications associated with a DC car accident while pregnant make valuing your case complex.
Additionally, if your child passes away by miscarriage, we will discuss the value of that claim with the value of your claim. If your child suffers from preterm labor or fetal trauma, we may have to set up a trust for your child to compensate them for damages sustained due to the car accident. Every case is different, and the injuries can vary significantly. Moreover, the jury in one trial may value an injury differently than another. Accordingly, we cannot give you an exact calculation to determine what your case is worth.
Contact Our Office
A DC car accident while pregnant can drastically alter your life and the life of your child. We take this case very seriously. Fortunately, we have 70 years of experience assisting plaintiffs in Washington, DC. Since 1954, we have helped thousands of clients successfully resolve their claims and recovered over $150,000,000.
Call our office today for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.