Car accidents remain a leading cause of injury in the U.S. In fact, nearly 4.5 million Americans seek medical treatment following motor vehicle accidents annually. Many of these are pregnant women who have concerns about the health of their unborn children.
If you have a car accident while you are pregnant, your unborn child may have suffered injuries that are not immediately apparent. What you do in the first few minutes and hours after a crash may make a considerable difference in both your pregnancy and the health of your unborn child.
Should you call 911?
With few exceptions, pregnant women should call 911 and request emergency medical assistance after any type of car accident. If you are experiencing any of the following, though, you must get to the emergency room as quickly as possible:
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Loss of consciousness, fainting or dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding, spotting or discharge
- Disorientation, confusion or headaches
- Changes in your unborn child’s movements
- Labor pains
Do you need specialist care?
Most ER physicians have the training, experience and skill to treat pregnant women and their unborn children after car accidents. Still, you should not rely on the ER doctor to rule out all possible injuries to your baby. Your obstetrician-gynecologist may order tests and provide additional instructions to minimize your chances of having a high-risk pregnancy.
Even though seeking medical treatment for yourself and your unborn baby may be expensive, you simply cannot leave your health or your child’s well-being to chance. Ultimately, you may be able to pursue financial compensation to help you pay your accident-related medical bills.