It’s the unthinkable. You’re driving your car, get into an accident, and suffer a miscarriage as a result.
According to CBS Minnesota, a Minneapolis, Minnesota woman had a miscarriage after surviving a car accident that took place mid-June. The woman was rushed to the hospital where her unborn child later died. The miscarriage occurred due to placental abruption. During placental abruption, the placenta peels away from the walls of the uterus before delivery. This very serious complication of pregnancy can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients and cause the mother to suffer serious internal bleeding.
More pregnant women die in car accidents every year than those who die due to pregnancy complications. Car accidents are a serious risk factor for an unborn baby and mother.
The New York Times reports that anywhere from 300 to 1,000 unborn children die as a result of car accidents every year. According to the New York Times, it doesn’t take a lot of force to result in the placenta detaching from the uterine wall. The forces that a pregnant woman can experience during a car accident can easily result in miscarriage.
So, what are some things that pregnant women can do to protect their unborn fetus while they are riding or driving a car? For one, women should aim to sit as far away from the steering wheel as possible when driving. The force of a belly hitting the wheel in the event of an accident can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Secondly, women should make sure that they are properly wearing their seat belts. The lap part of the belt may be uncomfortable, but it should be worn near the pelvis to prevent injury to the baby and also to protect the mother in the event of an accident.
In general, pregnant women are safer as passengers than as drivers, because as passengers they don’t have the risk of hitting the steering wheel. Yet, currently, there has been very little research performed about the exact forces required in order for uterine detachment to occur. As it stands, researchers are performing tests to determine what measures pregnant women should take to keep themselves and their unborn children safe when riding in a car.
Until the research is out, the best thing women can do is wear a seat belt and sit as far from the steering wheel as possible. Some experts even advise women to use pedal extenders so that they can sit even further from the wheel.
Sadly, many car accidents take place not due to the actions of the pregnant women drivers, but due to the negligence of other drivers on the road. Driver inattention, cell phone use, fatigue, and failure to follow the law, results in countless accidents every year. If you or a loved one has suffered a loss due to another person’s negligence behind the wheel, a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota can help. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino has helped many families receive compensation for their losses and injuries.