How Pregnancy Affects A Car Accident Settlement Amount
Pregnancy loss is one of the worst things that can happen to a woman, especially if a pregnant woman loses a child in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of bodily injury and death for pregnant women and also the number one cause of traumatic fetal death.
If you or your loved one suffered a miscarriage or your baby was otherwise affected by a car accident, you need to understand how to seek compensation for your losses and damages. Being pregnant in a car accident can have a tremendous impact on the settlement amount. Contact our New Hampshire car accident lawyers to discuss your case.
Pregnancy Complications in Car Accidents
For any pregnant woman who has been involved in a car accident, concerns about a possible miscarriage can add a significant emotional burden. However, the risk of miscarriage is not the only complication that an expectant mother could suffer in a car crash. Other complications include:
- Traumatic fetal injury
- Fetal brain damage
- Premature birth
- Placental abruption
- Injury to shared maternal-fetal organs
- Birth defects
- Death
If you can prove that a car accident was the result of negligence or a wrongful act on the part of another party, you can seek compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Pregnancy complications may occur in addition to the injuries suffered by the pregnant woman in a car accident.
What Damages Can a Pregnant Woman Recover After a Car Accident?
Typically, a car accident settlement amount can be broken down into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages
Economic damages include the monetary losses, expenses, and costs associated with treating pregnancy complications and other car accident injuries. Some of the economic damages that a pregnant woman may suffer in a car accident include:
- The cost of medical treatment of the pregnant woman’s own injuries
- The cost of medical exams and testing used for evaluating the unborn baby’s health
- Expenses associated with specialized treatment to address pregnancy complications after the accident
- The loss of income caused by the expectant mother’s inability to work while recovering
- The cost of an emergency C-section after the crash
- Long-term expenses associated with birth defects and other complications
Non-economic damages
In addition to economic damages, which are easily quantifiable, a pregnant woman may seek compensation for her non-monetary losses. Non-economic damages are intangible losses caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongful act. Some of the non-economic damages that may be available in a car crash involving a pregnant woman are:
- Pain and suffering
- The fear posed by the risk of a miscarriage because of the crash
- Stress and anxiety associated with car accident complications
- Concerns and fears about the possible effects of the accident on pregnancy and the child’s health
The emotional and psychological suffering, fear, stress, depression, and distress can be more significant when experienced by pregnant women involved in car accidents compared to non-pregnant women. This fact alone can increase the value of your personal injury claim when seeking compensation.
If you are a pregnant woman who has been involved in a car accident or your loved one is pregnant and has been injured in an auto crash, speak with our attorneys at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC to discuss your particular situation. Call 800-984-3151 to calculate the appropriate car accident settlement amount in your case.
Resource:
cdc.gov/prams/pdf/snapshot-report/motorvehicleinjuries.pdf
