There is no way to calculate an average settlement for pregnant car accident victims. However, pregnant women could receive more compensation if they are injured in a car accident than someone who is not pregnant, depending on the circumstances.
Pregnancy adds risk for the mother and fetus and the potential for complications. This situation could increase the value of an injury claim or lawsuit. Working with a Boca Raton car accident lawyer will ensure you consider a wide range of expenses and losses when negotiating for a fair settlement.
All Car Accident Payouts Depend on the Victim’s Expenses and Losses
Settlements or verdicts in a car accident injury case are highly dependent on the expenses and losses the victim incurred or will endure in the future because of the crash and their injuries.
When a victim is pregnant, they could require more medical care, time away from work, ongoing monitoring, and out-of-pocket costs to ensure their needs are met. This could increase their payout over someone with similar injuries who is not pregnant.
Why Might a Pregnant Victim Recover More Money?
When someone is pregnant and suffers severe injuries in a crash caused by a careless driver, they could incur more medical expenses due to:
- Additional medical treatment, such as an ultrasound and fetal heart rate monitoring
- Medical intervention to prevent or stop premature labor
- Visits to a specialist, such as their OB-GYN or a maternal-fetal medicine doctor
- Emergency care, as a precaution
- Hospitalization for observation, in some cases
- Bed rest or additional time away from work to ensure the fetus’s health
Sometimes, an unborn baby may suffer injuries that cause a premature birth or ongoing health issues. This could require their parent(s) to seek financial compensation for the child’s future care and support, including future medical treatment and monitoring, long-term care needs, therapies, and support costs.
Accidents involving pregnant women often involve heightened emotional distress, too. Victims can seek compensation for intangible losses that include:
- Physical pain, especially if the accident caused contractions or injuries such as placental abruption
- Emotional trauma that includes fear of miscarriage or risk of preterm labor
What Damages are Available for an Injured Unborn Baby?
If the unborn child is harmed or passes away because of the accident, the baby’s parent(s) should work with a personal injury lawyer to ensure they understand their options based on state law. This could include:
- Filing a wrongful death action based on the baby’s death (in some states)
- Filing a claim based on the child’s injuries
- Filing a claim based on birth injuries related to the crash
What Should I Do if I am Involved in a Crash While Pregnant?
Your health and the health of your baby must be a priority after an auto accident. Even if you feel okay, you should see your OB-GYN or another medical care provider for an assessment as soon as possible. Car accidents can cause several pregnancy complications that may not be obvious immediately, such as:
- Placental abruption
- Premature labor
- Internal bleeding, possibly from trauma to the uterus
- Injuries to the baby
Documenting your injuries or the complications you experience as soon as possible is essential. This creates a clear tie between the accident and your diagnosis and may make it easier to recover financial compensation. There is less chance of the liable party’s insurance company alleging that your complications or injuries are just a natural part of pregnancy and delivery.
Once you receive a diagnosis, continue with your medical care as instructed by your doctors. Missing appointments or ignoring your doctor’s recommendations can not only hurt your health and your child’s health but also give the insurance company a potential way to blame you for your injuries and damages.
Document Your Expenses and Losses
Keep records of all your visits, costs, and other details, such as:
- Hospital bills
- Prescription medications
- Transportation to medical visits
- Missed work due to appointments or bed rest necessitated by the crash
When you are in an accident while pregnant, your assessment and care may cost more. You deserve fair compensation for these added costs.
Avoid Speaking to Insurance Adjusters Alone
Insurance companies often downplay the severity of motor vehicle accident victims’ injuries or use other tactics to reduce payments. Do not accept a lowball offer before speaking to a car accident attorney about your case, and politely decline to give recorded statements.
Your lawyer can give the insurance adjuster any information they need to know as a part of managing all communication related to your case. The insurance carrier may use your recorded statement to hurt your case, not help you recover more money.
Consult a Personal Injury Attorney Early
Being involved in a car accident while pregnant could make your insurance claim more complex. You want an attorney on your side who can represent your best interests and handle your case while you focus on your health and the health of your child.
An experienced car accident attorney can call in medical experts to better understand how the collision affected your pregnancy or injured your child, develop a strong case for a fair settlement, and ensure your payout reflects the full range of your injuries and damages.
Will I Need to Sue the At-Fault Driver?
Whether you will need to file a lawsuit will depend on many factors. For example, in Florida, your no-fault auto insurance coverage may pay for your medical assessment and monitoring without needing to pursue a fault-based claim. However, if you or your child suffered serious injuries, you may need to sue the at-fault driver to hold them accountable for their negligence and recover the money you deserve.
If necessary, you generally have two years to sue under Florida Statutes § 95.11. However, exceptions may exist if you are suing for injuries to your baby. Your auto accident lawyer can explain what deadlines you face in your case.
Talk to Our Car Accident Legal Team Today About Your Case
At GED Lawyers, our team knows what it takes to recover compensation for our clients. You can see from our case results that we have recovered $26+ million for injury victims. We provide free consultations so you can learn more. Call our Florida car accident lawyers today.
