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Auto Accident Risks for Pregnant Women

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Auto accident-related injuries are the leading cause of death among pregnant mothers and their unborn babies, and they are also the leading cause of hospitalization for maternal injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident while pregnant due to another driver’s negligence, seek medical treatment and contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Here are some more statistics about auto accidents involving pregnant women:

– About 30,000 pregnant women are involved in an auto accident each year, and it’s estimated that about 3% of all women have been hurt or injured in one while pregnant.
– Auto accidents result in about five times as many fetal deaths as infant deaths.
– It’s estimated that two to fourteen fetuses per day die in auto accidents.

Pregnant women who are hurt in an accident are also at risk of “placental abruption,” which occurs when the placenta becomes partially or completely detached from the uterus, often due to sudden and extreme force. Placental abruption can have severe complications, including blood hemorrhage, premature delivery, miscarriage, or stillbirth, and some signs and symptoms include abdominal/back pain, vaginal bleeding, uterine tenderness, and rapid uterine contractions.

It is essential for the health of both an expectant mother and her baby that a seatbelt is worn inside a vehicle at all times. One study found that pregnant women who were involved in auto accidents “had elevated rates of pre-term birth, placental abruption, and premature rupture of the membranes after a single crash” compared to those who were not in an accident, and the same study found that pregnant mothers who weren’t wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash are three times more likely to suffer a stillbirth than those who do wear a seatbelt. Also, remember that the seatbelts in most cars made after the year 2000 can be raised or lowered for better comfort.

If you or another expectant mother has been injured in an accident due to negligence, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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