Claim for a Car Accident While Pregnant in New York

Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of anticipation and preparation, not emergency medical care and legal paperwork. If someone else’s negligence causes a collision that threatens your health and your baby’s life, the impact can be devastating in ways that are difficult to put into words.

Pregnant crash victims often face physical, emotional, and financial harm that far exceeds what a typical car accident claim covers. New York law may give you the right to pursue compensation that accounts for all of it – and an experienced car accident attorney at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. can help you demand it.

What to Do After Being in a Car Accident While Pregnant

After the immediate chaos of a car accident while pregnant, there are some important steps you should take to protect your safety, your baby’s health, and your legal rights. Here’s what you should do:

• Seek immediate medical treatment so you and your baby can get checked out, even if there are no obvious injuries or pain.
• Take pictures of any visible injuries, vehicle damage, and the accident scene, if you can do so safely.
• Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw the collision.
• Notify your insurer about the wreck, but avoid giving too many details before consulting a lawyer.
• Track all financial losses connected to the crash, including lost wages and out-of-pocket costs.
• Contact a New York car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Common Injuries Pregnant Women Suffer in Car Accidents

Even a relatively “minor” car accident while pregnant can have serious consequences for mothers and their babies. Here are some examples of common injuries in these cases:

• Placental abruption – This type of pregnancy complication occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery. The condition cuts off oxygen and nutrients to the baby and may require emergency care.
• Uterine rupture – The force of a crash can tear the uterine wall, which can be a life-threatening emergency for both the mother and baby. This injury is more likely to happen in later stages of pregnancy, when the uterus is more vulnerable to blunt trauma.
• Seatbelt injuries – Seatbelts save lives, including during pregnancy. However, the force of a crash can cause the belt to press hard against the abdomen, bruising soft tissue, fracturing ribs, or damaging internal organs. Improper belt positioning significantly increases this risk.
• Whiplash and spinal injuries – The rapid, violent snapping of the head and neck in a rear-end collision can damage muscles, ligaments, and discs in the cervical spine. For pregnant women, spinal injuries are especially concerning because treatment options are more limited.
• Pelvic fractures – A high-impact collision can fracture the pelvis, which poses a dual threat: the injury itself is debilitating, and it can directly affect a pregnant mother’s delivery options.
• Emotional trauma – Car crashes are frightening under any circumstances, but the experience of fearing for the life of an unborn baby can produce lasting emotional scars. Pregnant crash victims can develop psychological complications that affect prenatal and postpartum health.
• Internal bleeding – Blunt force abdominal trauma can rupture blood vessels and organs without any visible external injuries. Internal bleeding is particularly dangerous because it isn’t always obvious right away, and delayed diagnosis can worsen outcomes for both mother and baby.
• Fetal injury or loss – In severe accidents, the baby can sustain direct physical injuries, or the trauma to the mother’s body can prove fatal to the still-developing fetus.

Compensation for a Car Accident While Pregnant

New York’s no-fault auto insurance system covers some of your basic expenses after a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. However, no-fault coverage has limits, which often aren’t enough to cover the expenses of a seriously injured pregnant woman.

If your injuries meet New York’s threshold for a personal injury claim, you may have the right to pursue additional compensation from the at-fault driver. Depending on the circumstances, this could include compensation for:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages while recovering or on bed rest
• Reduced earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering stemming from the crash
• Emotional distress and psychological harm
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life
• Loss of pregnancy

What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident While Pregnant?

There’s no reliable “average” settlement amount for any personal injury claim, including cases involving compensation for a car accident while pregnant. The value of any claim depends on a wide range of factors specific to that case. Some key factors that could influence what your claim is worth include:

• The severity of your physical injuries and pregnancy complications
• The extent of any harm to your unborn child
• The strength of the evidence establishing the other driver’s fault
• Whether any additional liable parties are involved in the case
• The total cost of your past and anticipated future medical care
• The impact of your injuries on your ability to work and earn income
• The degree of pain, suffering, and emotional distress you experience
• The quality and consistency of your evidence
• The at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits

When you work with an experienced car accident attorney, they can help you seek maximum compensation that reflects the full extent of your losses.

How Our Car Accident Lawyers Can Help with Your Claim

The weeks and months after a serious car accident are hard enough without the added burden of fighting an insurance company for fair compensation, especially when you’re pregnant. An experienced New York car accident attorney at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. can handle all the legal details so you can focus on your health and your baby.

We can investigate the crash, collect evidence, and prepare a case that reflects the full impact the accident has had on your life and your pregnancy. From your first consultation through the final resolution of your case, your attorney’s job is to be a compassionate yet relentless advocate, demanding every dollar you’re owed for your losses so you can move forward.

Get in Touch with Our Compassionate Car Accident Lawyers for Help

If you were injured in a car accident while pregnant, The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. can help. We understand the toll these cases can take on families, and we’re committed to fighting for the recovery you deserve. Contact our team today for a free consultation to talk through your options with an experienced attorney who will take your case seriously.

About the Author

Simon Landsberg
Simon B. Landsberg is an associate attorney at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. He focuses his practice exclusively on representing individuals and families who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents and due to other forms of negligence.