New York City Car Accident While Pregnant

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Being involved in a car crash in New York while pregnant can upend your life and that of your unborn baby. As a pregnant woman, you’re at greater risk of sustaining certain injuries in a wreck. A crash also has a high chance of resulting in fetal injury or even death.

No amount of money can give you back what you’ve lost after such a crash. However, compensation could be available for your medical bills and other losses resulting from your injuries. The New York City car accident attorneys with Finz & Finz, P.C. offer the representation you need now. For 40 years, we have helped personal injury victims obtain record-breaking results in New York and nationwide. Contact us today to learn more about how a New York City car accident lawyer can help with your case.

How Can a New York City Car Accident Attorney Help?

An experienced car accident attorney can assist you in the following ways after a motor vehicle collision while pregnant:

  • Identifying liable parties
  • Gathering evidence of their legal fault
  • Estimating your claim’s potential value
  • Filing a claim
  • Negotiating with the insurance company
  • Determining if you need to go to trial

A lawyer can help even when you’re only filing a claim with your insurer. Their representation may influence how much compensation you receive. While you rest and recover, the attorney can handle all the legal work.

What Should I Do If I Got in a Car Accident During Pregnancy?

Knowing what to do if you are in a car accident while pregnant is essential to protecting yourself and your child. Immediately after a collision, take these steps:

  • Check yourself for any injuries requiring immediate attention
  • Get to a safe spot
  • Call 911 and report the crash, making it very clear you are pregnant

Don’t move much as you wait for emergency services to arrive. You may exchange contact and insurance information with the other drivers involved in the wreck, but ask that they come to you to do so.

What you do in the days and weeks to come is just as important to the outcome of your car accident case. Here are some steps to take to protect your claim:

  • Write down your memory of events while they’re still fresh
  • Maintain a file of all medical documentation, repair estimates, and correspondence with your employer, as relevant
  • Contact a personal injury lawyer, request a free case review, and bring your file with you to that meeting

Should a Pregnant Woman File a Claim After a Car Accident in New York City?

New York is a no-fault car crash state. According to the New York State Department of Financial Services, you need to buy Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance to register a car in New York.

Your PIP insurance is responsible for compensating you for medical bills and related losses after a crash. It doesn’t matter whether the collision was someone else’s fault – filing a claim with your insurance is still your first means of seeking compensation.

That said, per New York law, if your injuries meet the legal threshold necessary to qualify as “serious” under the state’s definition of the term, you can file a separate third-party claim against a negligent motorist who caused your crash. One of the qualifying injuries is the loss of a fetus. You may consider this option if the settlement your insurance provides isn’t enough to compensate you for your losses entirely.

The negligent party may be uninsured. Or, their insurer might not offer a fair settlement. You could file a car accident while pregnant lawsuit to seek compensation in these circumstances.

Compensation Available in New York Car Accident Cases Involving Pregnancy

Compensation for a car accident while pregnant may include money for the following types of losses:

  • Lost income
  • Medical bills
  • Ongoing care for you and your child
  • Pain and suffering pregnant car accident losses
  • Property damage

Common Injuries and Complications After Getting Involved in a Car Accident While Pregnant

Unfortunately, a motor vehicle accident can have significant consequences for a pregnant motorist or passenger. According to a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, motor vehicle collisions are the top cause of fetal death in cases involving maternal trauma.

Someone who is in a car accident while pregnant may be at risk of sustaining injuries and complications, such as:

  • Acute blood loss
  • Hemorrhaging
  • Internal bleeding
  • Miscarriage
  • Pre-term labor

Fetal death is common in these circumstances. Even car crashes involving pregnant women that don’t result in fetal death can have serious implications for the child. As the study above explains, the collision may cause fetal brain injury that can result in various long-term complications.

Health Risks for Pregnant Women Involved in Car Accidents

Being involved in even a minor car accident while pregnant can result in serious health issues. The health risks for pregnant women in motor vehicle crashes are more significant than those for the average person. According to a paper from the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, those health risks are:

  • Placental abruption, which involves the placenta separating from the wall of the uterus
  • The potential need for an emergency cesarean, which can endanger the life of both the mother and child
  • Uterine rupture, which may be more likely if a pregnant driver’s body strikes the steering wheel
  • Uterine laceration

Pregnant women are at increased risk of serious injuries and complications in motor vehicle crashes for several reasons. First, the body is in a sensitive state during pregnancy. For example, according to Yale Medicine, many women experience high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can pose a serious risk during a traumatic collision.

The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine paper above also goes into great detail regarding the way automotive design can influence injury risk for pregnant women who are car accident victims. Naturally, the further along a woman’s pregnancy is, the less space there is between her body and the steering wheel or dashboard – and the likelier the two will collide in a crash.

Talk to an Experienced New York City Car Accident Lawyer Today

Any car crash can be a traumatic experience. However, a collision while you’re pregnant can be especially frightening – and its consequences can be truly devastating.

If someone else was to blame for the accident, they could owe you compensation for what you and your child have suffered. Speak with our New York car accident attorneys at Finz & Finz, P.C. for more information about car accident claims. Get started today by contacting us online or calling us for a free case review.