Pregnant women face very high risks to their own lives and that of their unborn babies if they’re involved in a motor-vehicle collision (MVA). This fact was confirmed in a study conducted in 2014 that examined ER data for more than 500,000 women across a five year period in Ontario. Women, especially those in their second trimester of pregnancy, are at a much higher risk according to an article published in the May 2014 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Nearly 3% of pregnant women were involved in serious collisions, with winter being the peak season for such mishaps.

The study also draws certain links between the occurrence of serious, life-threatening collisions and the woman’s being in the middle months of her pregnancy. According to Dr Donald Redelmeier the lead investigator in the study, pregnant women may be less vigilant due to fatigue, insomnia and back-pain which commonly occur in this period. The woman is also more stressed in anticipation of the baby’s arrival and the attendant changes to routine and relationships within the family.

Is Driving Unsafe During Pregnancy?

Dr Redelemeir found it interesting that most of the concerns that women had were about things like hot tubs or roller-coaster ridesbut never about driving. Working women and home-makers take driving as a matter of course and they don’t see anything inherently risky in it. However, statistics show that the risks are higher in the middle part of pregnancy and women should be aware of this fact.

Obviously, the study doesn’t recommend avoiding driving altogether during pregnancy. In fact, it’s much more physically and emotionally healthy to continue doing routine things and keeping to one’s normal schedule as much as possible.

Risks

Maternal trauma following an MVA can range from mild and superficial injuries to the need for immediate cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Medical ethics demands that maternal assessment and therapy take priority over fetal care. Hence, doctors in ER tend to focus on keeping the mother’s risk at a minimum as compared to the unborn fetus’s. In general, about 4-6 hours of hospitalization is recommended for observation unless there are severe injuries caused by high-velocity impacts or pedestrian collisions.

Common complications of MVA in pregnancy include:

• Placental abruption (separation of the placenta from uterus before birth of baby)
• Hemorrhage
• Pre-term birth
• Rupture of uterus
• Trauma to fetus due to impact
• Injuries to fetal brain caused by restraints like seat-belts, airbags etc
• Limb, rib or skull fracture for both mother and baby

Regular follow-ups and check-ups after any MVA, however minor,  are important.

An experienced Ajax personal injury lawyer who has dealt with similar cases can provide the right assistance and advice.

Safety Tips

Pregnant women should simply follow standard safe driving behavior and this includes:

• Seat-belt usage
• Following traffic rules and signals
• Avoiding distractions like cell-phones
• Staying within speed limits

Accidents are not always “accidental” – they’re caused by someone’s fault or negligence. If your collision was caused by a distracted/alcohol/drug-impaired/speeding driver, contact an experienced Ajax injury lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation.