Car Accident Attorney

Pregnancy comes with its own risks, but if you are in a car accident while pregnant, it could pose some new risks. The first thing you should do after an accident is stay calm. Panicking or overreacting is only going to cause you and your baby more stress, so take some deep breaths and know that everything is going to be ok. Next, be sure you complete the following steps.

1. Call the Police

If you or another person involved in the accident have life-threatening injuries, call 911 to get paramedics to the scene as soon as possible. If there are no life-threatening injuries, you could simply call the non-emergency phone number of the local police department. In either case, a police officer will respond to the accident so a report can be made. If there are injuries, the paramedics will assess the injured individual. As a pregnant woman, you should be examined by a paramedic regardless of the degree of your injuries.

Be sure you explain to the dispatcher, the police officers, the paramedics and anyone else who shows up to help that you are pregnant. The fact you’re expecting could make a difference in the type of medication and treatment administered to you.

2. Receive Medical Care

You should receive medical care at the scene of your accident, but there are a lot of situations with pregnant women in car accidents that call for additional care. You may need to go to the emergency room, but if not, be sure you contact your OB/GYN as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Tell the receptionist about your accident so you’ll be given priority to see the doctor. If you experience any of the following after returning home, you should contact your doctor, and possibly go to the emergency room.

• Changes in how the baby moves
• Bleeding or spotting
• Severe headaches
• Vomiting more than usual
• Pain in the abdominal area
• Light-headedness or loss of consciousness
• Swollen extremities or face

3. Collect Adequate Information

When it comes to car accidents, you can’t gather too much information. Swap contact and insurance information with the other driver. Ask the police officer for the report number so you can get a copy of the report after it has been filed. Take pictures at the scene to provide an accurate depiction of what happened. Collect contact information from any witnesses or passengers in either car. All of this information is going to help you whether you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit.

Contact Your Lawyer

After your car accident, you should do everything possible to make sure you and baby are safe. Once you receive medical assistance, contact a car accident attorney, like a car accident lawyer from Rispoli & Borneo, P.C., to walk you through the legal process.