Pregnant Women and Car Accidents

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

Having a child is one of the fondest memories in a person’s life. However, there are many factors to consider when a woman is expecting a baby, such as driving habits. Research has shown that pregnant women are 42 percent more likely to be involved in a car accident by the second trimester. By the third trimester, however, the likelihood of being involved in a car accident is far less than it is for mothers in their second trimester.

Statistics of Pregnant Women in Car Accidents

About one in 50 pregnant women will be involved in a car accident at some time in their pregnancy. At the first month of the first trimester of pregnancy, there was a reported 4.33 crashes per 1,000 women per year. However, at the first month of the second trimester, the car accident rate increased to 7.66 crashes per 1,000 women per year. During the entire second trimester, the car accident rate was 6.47 car accidents per 1,000 women per year. During the last month of pregnancy, the car accident rate decreased to 2.74 crashes per 1,000 women for every year. After the birth of the baby, the car accident rate further decreased to 2.35 crashes per 1,000 women per year.

What to Do When Involved in a Car Accident

If a woman is pregnant, and she is involved in a car accident, it is very important to go to the hospital right away, even if she is not injured. At any point in the woman’s pregnancy, a car accident can cause serious injury. At the hospital, the pregnant woman will receive a thorough obstetric examination to make sure that her baby is still healthy. This includes another ultrasound to check on the fetus and the placenta.

The pregnant woman may be observed by medical personnel for several hours, depending on the age of the fetus and any symptoms that she may have following the accident.

What to Do After Medical Treatment

When the pregnant woman is released from the hospital, then she must watch closely for subsequent bleeding, leaking fluid, intense contractions, or overall abdominal pain. It is also important to watch for a decline in the baby’s movements, as this could be a major cause of concern regarding the baby’s overall health.

Contact a Cook County Car Accident Lawyer

Being involved in a car accident is a scary experience, and it can be even more devastating if you or a loved one is pregnant at the time of the car accident. If you are pregnant and have been injured in a car accident, you can count on the law offices of Issa Law, LLC for effective legal representation. For a free initial consultation, please call an Orland Park personal injury attorney at 708-966-2408 to discuss your case.

Sources:

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-pregnant-women-car-crash-risk-20140512-story.html

https://www.babycenter.com/404_what-should-i-do-if-im-in-a-car-accident-while-im-pregnant_7235.bc