AUSTIN, Texas. According to Safe Ride 4 Kids, approximately 25 different studies indicate that driving while pregnant can increase your miscarriage risk. The studies indicate that as many as 3,000 women might suffer miscarriages due to car accidents. While many pregnant women involved in car accidents might not suffer a miscarriage, some do. A miscarriage can be devastating. What can you do to prevent miscarriages while driving, and what can you do if you’ve suffered a miscarriage due to a car accident?

First, it is important to distinguish between miscarriages caused by car accidents and miscarriages that happen simply because the baby wasn’t viable. According to Parents, in some cases, miscarriages are simply not preventable—the fetus may have had a genetic abnormality leading to the loss of the pregnancy.

If you are pregnant and have been in a car accident, it is important to seek medical treatment right away. According to Baby Center, any sudden jolt can separate the placenta from the uterus, resulting in a miscarriage. Placental abruption can lead to complications, include hemorrhage, miscarriage, and early delivery. What is most alarming about placental abruption is that it can often go undetected by the mother. This is why it is important to seek medical attention right away if you are pregnant and have been in a car accident.

Because of the risks of car accidents, some mothers ask if it is safe to drive while pregnant. NPR reports that a study found that pregnant women might be more at risk than the general population for car accidents. It isn’t clear whether pregnant women might be more likely to report minor accidents while pregnant or whether pregnant women actually have a higher risk of getting into an accident, but the statistics indicate that pregnant women should at the least take precautions.

While you can drive while pregnant, there are steps mothers-to-be can take to keep their unborn baby safe while driving. The biggest risk to the developing fetus is the steering wheel. Try to give yourself as much space as possible between your belly and the steering wheel. As you enter the third trimester, it is ultimately up to you to decide about whether or not to drive, and much of it will have to do with how close your belly gets to the car’s components. Many women in the later stages of pregnancy opt to be driven around rather than get behind the wheel themselves. If you are concerned, be sure to speak to your doctor.

If you have been in a car accident while pregnant, seek medical care right away. If you have suffered a miscarriage or your unborn baby was injured, consider speaking to the Robson Law Firm, personal injury lawyers in Austin, Texas today. Our firm can review the details of your case and may be able to help you seek compensation for these devastating losses and injuries. You are not alone. The Robson Law Firm can help. Contact us for more information.

Robson Law Firm
1114 Lost Creek Boulevard
Suite 440
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 345-8200

What to Do If You’ve Had a Miscarriage After a Car Accident