You’ve just been in a car accident while pregnant in Colorado. What do you do next? Being in an accident is always scary, but a traffic collision while pregnant is even more upsetting. In fact, one study estimated that 130,000 pregnant women are involved in a car crash every year.
A car accident while pregnant has many more potential causes for concern. Generally, pregnant women are at greater risk of physical harm. Thus, a traffic collision is also associated with more costs, as medical care following an accident requires more attention.
Stress is never good and especially not during pregnancy. Yet anyone who’s been in an accident knows it can be stressful. Your emotional trauma from an accident can have adverse effects on your health. Furthermore, you may experience additional emotional distress because of your worries about how it may affect your baby.
Read on for tips on the risks of a car accident while pregnant and what to do afterward.
What To Do Immediately Following A Car Accident While Pregnant
Contact Local Authorities
Immediately following the accident, contact local police. For a more severe accident, always call 911. This call will dispatch the police and an ambulance if needed. You can contact your local non-emergency line if it is a minor accident. However, you may still want police to come and verify whether the other driver was at fault. Furthermore, the police can even issue a negligent driving ticket against the other driver in the state of Colorado.
Be Transparent About Your Pregnancy
Be sure to explain that you’re pregnant to everyone involved. Inform the other driver, the 911 operator, the police, and medical responders that you are an expectant mother. Letting people know about your pregnancy will help anyone present to take extra care and attention in assisting you.
Seek Medical Attention ASAP
Seek medical attention immediately, whether or not you feel unwell. After the accident, be sure to be checked out by a medical professional. Even if it was a low-impact collision, you must ensure that you and your baby are not in immediate danger. Your doctor will advise you on what to watch out for in the coming weeks and months of your pregnancy.
Collect Evidence
Collect evidence and document the scene. Get the other driver’s license plate, name, contact information, and insurance information. Take clear photographs and video as long as you can safely move about the area.
Health Risks From A Car Accident While Pregnant
During a collision, the vehicle’s impact can cause many forms of harm to you and your baby. Additionally, the health risks posed by a car accident while pregnant can be more than just physical. The stress caused by the crash can potentially affect your unborn child now or in the future. Therefore, even if there is no apparent physical harm, there is still a risk to your child’s ongoing health.
Some of the risks associated with a car accident while pregnant include the following:
- Pre-term labor
- Miscarriage
- Hemorrhaging
- Whiplash
- Maternal or fetal brain injury (also known as coup and countercoup)
- Congenital disabilities
- Internal bleeding
- Placental abruption (which will cause the placenta to detach from the uterus)
- Uterine rupture
- Causing a high-risk pregnancy
- Emotional trauma
What Symptoms To Look Out For After An Accident
Be aware of any of the following symptoms, and always err on the side of caution. If you note any signs from the following list, seek immediate medical attention.
- Deep vein thrombosis (swelling)
- Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure)
- Bleeding
- Pelvic pain
- Abdominal pain
- Contractions
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Dehydration
What To Do In The Following Months Of Your Pregnancy After A Car Accident
Here are some steps you can take to ensure your and your baby’s safety after you’ve been in a car accident while pregnant:
1. Follow your doctor’s plan of care. Long-term effects from a car accident are more numerous and dangerous while pregnant. Be sure to follow your doctor’s medical treatment as directed. Go back in for a check-up anytime something feels off.
2. Save all medical records and bills, vehicle repair receipts, household bills, and pay stubs. Maintaining detailed records of your finances will help determine how the accident changed your expenses and earning capacity.
3. Safeguard all evidence from the scene of the accident. For example, keep all the photos you took, insurance information, and a detailed account of the incident in a safe place.
4. Write a journal to track your physical and emotional symptoms. This account helps to monitor your and your baby’s health after a car accident while pregnant. Additionally, your journal can also serve as evidence if you decide to seek legal representation.
What Compensation Can You Receive From A Car Accident You Suffered While Pregnant?
If you have questions about your rights after an accident, don’t hesitate to contact a Denver car accident lawyer for legal help.
Remember, waiting until your child is born to file a legal claim may be worthwhile. This way, a doctor can assess any effects of the accident on your child as it grows up. In addition, Colorado law allows you to file a personal injury claim up to two years after an incident occurs.
Here are some of the costs associated with an accident for which you can seek compensation:
- Past and future medical expenses to both mother and baby
- Damage to property
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
How To Protect Yourself From A Car Accident While Driving Pregnant
You can take steps to protect yourself when driving a vehicle while pregnant. Here are a few tips:
Wear Your Seatbelt Correctly
Properly wearing your seatbelt is essential to protecting your baby whenever you’re in a car. Using your seatbelt correctly will help to hold you safely in place without putting any pressure on your growing baby. Make sure the lap portion of the belt sits below the abdomen, just above the hips. The shoulder portion of the belt should rest across your chest, above the stomach.
Put More Space Between Your Belly and the Wheel
Move your seat back from the wheel to give yourself adequate space. The impact of the steering wheel or airbag on the abdomen during pregnancy is hazardous. Therefore, you want to provide yourself with as much space as is comfortable and safe when driving while pregnant.
Drive Less if You Can
Avoid driving when possible. Let a family member or friend do the driving. Being away from the steering wheel will give extra protection to your baby when you go somewhere in a vehicle.
Contact An Experienced Denver Car Accident Lawyer Today
You have legal options if you were injured while pregnant in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Or, if you suffered any birth complications after the accident, you can seek recovery.
Our team of skilled Denver Car Accident Attorneys have genuine compassion for our clients and will do everything in our power to help you get the compensation you deserve. We understand how devastating a car accident can be, even more so while pregnant.
Contact us for a free initial consultation or call (720)500-HURT.
