Car Accident While Pregnant: What You Need to Know About Settlements
At The Weinstein Firm, we dedicate our practice to protecting injury victims across Georgia. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers have built a reputation for aggressive representation and proven results in cases involving serious injuries, pregnancy complications, and wrongful death claims. We understand that every client deserves personal attention, clear guidance, and a legal strategy focused on fair compensation. When you choose our firm, you gain a team committed to standing with you and fighting for the justice you deserve.
A car accident while pregnant creates urgent concerns for both the mother and the unborn child. The physical pain, emotional distress, and risk of pregnancy complications make these cases far more serious than the average car accident settlement. Medical bills, future medical expenses, and non economic damages can rise quickly, and insurance companies often try to limit compensation.
Understanding how Georgia law treats these cases and how an Atlanta car accident lawyer can protect your rights is the first step in securing fair settlement for the injuries sustained.
Immediate Concerns After a Car Accident While Pregnant
A car accident while pregnant creates urgent risks for both the mother and the unborn child. Immediate action and medical care are critical to protect health and safety.
The Need for Immediate Medical Attention
Pregnant women involved in a motor vehicle accident should seek medical attention right away, even if injuries are not visible. Accident victims may suffer internal injuries or direct trauma that threaten the unborn child’s health. Emergency room visits allow doctors to check for pregnancy complications such as preterm labor or premature birth.
Common Injuries Sustained in Pregnancy-Related Car Crashes
A severe car accident can cause serious injuries to both you and your unborn baby. Car crash victims may suffer neck injuries, internal bleeding, or severe and permanent injuries. These injuries often require extended hospital stays, high risk pregnancy protocol, or neonatal intensive care unit support for the child. Both the mother and unborn baby may face long-term medical expenses from injuries sustained.
Risks to the Unborn Child
An auto accident can result in shaken baby syndrome, birth injuries, or birth defects. Even without severe injuries to the mother, the unborn baby may still suffer complications. Unborn child’s health must be monitored closely through medical care after the accident scene. Early detection improves outcomes and supports a fair settlement in a car accident claim.
Emotional Trauma and Stress
Car accident victims often face emotional distress and physical pain after the crash. Pregnant women involved may also experience added anxiety about the unborn baby. Emotional trauma is a recognized form of non economic damages that an experienced car accident lawyer will factor into a personal injury attorney claim.
Georgia Law on Car Accidents and Pregnancy-Related Injuries
Georgia law gives pregnant women involved in a car crash the right to seek compensation for both the mother’s injuries and the unborn child’s health. Understanding these statutes helps accident victims and their families know what damages may be recovered.
Liability and the At Fault Driver
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. This means a car accident victim can seek compensation if they are less than 50 percent at fault. The settlement value depends on how much responsibility is placed on the at fault driver and how the injuries sustained affect both you and your unborn baby.
Wrongful Death Claims for an Unborn Child
If an unborn child does not survive a motor vehicle accident, Georgia law allows a wrongful death claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-4. This claim belongs to the parents and recognizes the loss of life caused by the at fault party. An Atlanta car accident attorney can guide families through this legal process with respect and precision.
Types of Recoverable Damages
Car crash victims may recover economic and non economic damages after an accident while pregnant. Economic damages include medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, and extended hospital stays. Non economic damages include emotional distress, physical pain, and permanent injuries that affect quality of life. In severe car accident cases, these damages often extend to the unborn child’s medical care and future needs.
Insurance Companies and Compensation
Insurance companies often try to limit the final settlement amount in car accident claims. They may undervalue the impact of pregnancy complications or ignore long-term medical care needs. An experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer can push back and fight for fair compensation that accounts for both the mother’s injuries and the unborn child’s health.
Factors That Impact the Average Settlement for a Car Accident While Pregnant
The average settlement for a car accident while pregnant depends on several legal and medical factors. Each case is unique, but certain elements consistently shape the settlement value.
Severity of Injuries Sustained
The seriousness of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident has a direct impact on the final settlement amount. Severe injuries such as internal injuries, neck injuries, or permanent injuries raise medical expenses and increase the likelihood of extended hospital stays. Both the mother’s injuries and the unborn baby’s condition play a role in determining settlement value.
Pregnancy Complications and Birth Outcomes
Car accident victims who suffer pregnancy complications often face higher medical costs and emotional trauma. Conditions such as preterm labor, premature birth, and birth injuries may require neonatal intensive care unit treatment. These outcomes increase both immediate medical bills and future medical expenses for the child’s care.
Medical Bills and Future Medical Expenses
Medical bills are one of the strongest factors in calculating a fair settlement. Emergency room visits, high risk pregnancy protocol, and long-term treatment raise the final settlement amount. When accident victims require ongoing medical care or when the unborn child needs specialized treatment, settlement value rises to account for these costs.
Lost Wages and Financial Impact
Pregnant women involved in a car accident may lose income due to extended recovery time. Lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and future financial strain are all part of a car accident claim. These damages highlight the economic impact of the accident while pregnant and must be considered for fair compensation.
Non Economic Damages
Accident victims may also recover non economic damages such as emotional distress, emotional trauma, and physical pain. These damages recognize how serious injuries and complications affect daily life. When both you and your unborn baby are impacted, settlement for a car accident can include a larger amount for non economic harm.
Insurance Companies and the Settlement Process
Insurance companies play a major role in the outcome of a car accident claim. Their goal is to minimize the final settlement amount, which makes strong legal representation critical for pregnant women involved in auto accidents.
How Insurance Coverage Works
After a motor vehicle accident, the at fault party’s insurance coverage is responsible for paying damages. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for injuries sustained. Insurance companies often dispute the extent of pregnancy complications or attempt to undervalue claims involving an unborn child.
Tactics Used by Insurance Companies
Insurers may question the link between the car crash and pregnancy complications such as premature birth or preterm labor. They may also attempt to settle quickly for less than fair compensation. These tactics put both the mother’s injuries and the unborn baby’s health at risk of being ignored in the settlement process.
Strengthening a Car Accident Claim
Accident victims can protect their claim by seeking immediate medical care, following treatment plans, and documenting all medical bills. Records of emergency room visits, extended hospital stays, and high risk pregnancy protocol strengthen the case. An experienced car accident lawyer ensures that both economic and non economic damages are included in the settlement value.
Role of an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney
An Atlanta car accident attorney handles negotiations with insurance companies and builds a strong injury claim. Their work ensures the legal process accounts for both you and your unborn child. With professional guidance, car accident victims stand a better chance of reaching a fair settlement that reflects the full impact of the accident while pregnant.
Why Pregnant Women Involved in Auto Accidents Need an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney
Pregnant women involved in auto accidents face unique challenges that demand skilled legal guidance. An Atlanta car accident attorney protects both the mother’s injuries and the unborn child’s health during the legal process.
Protecting Both the Mother and the Unborn Child
A car accident while pregnant creates two layers of harm. Both you and your unborn baby may suffer injuries sustained in the crash. An attorney ensures that medical bills, pregnancy complications, and long-term care needs are included in the injury claim.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies often undervalue claims involving pregnancy. They may reduce the final settlement amount by ignoring emotional trauma, premature birth, or birth injuries. An experienced car accident lawyer challenges these tactics and pushes for fair compensation.
Building a Strong Car Accident Claim
A lawyer collects medical records, hospital reports, and evidence from the accident scene. This documentation proves the impact of the car crash on both you and your unborn baby. A well-supported case increases the chance of securing a fair settlement for a car accident while pregnant.
Guidance Through the Legal Process
The legal process can overwhelm accident victims who are already focused on medical care. An Atlanta car accident attorney manages deadlines, paperwork, and negotiations. Their experience gives car crash victims peace of mind and a stronger chance of reaching a final settlement that covers economic and non economic damages.
Contact The Weinstein Firm About Your Accident ASAP!
If you were involved in a car accident while pregnant, you should not face the insurance companies alone. The stakes are high for both you and your unborn child, and every detail matters in your injury claim. Our team at The Weinstein Firm is ready to fight for fair compensation that covers medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Contact us at 770-HELP-NOW for a free case consultation today!
