Fetus Deaths are a High Risk for Pregnant Women Involved in Car Accidents

A new set of studies are being done on how to keep pregnant women safe while driving.  Car accidents are the leading cause of death of fetus' among pregnant women - even higher than the number of deaths due to birth complications - which has caused a concern for pregnant women who are present in the car especially those who are in the drivers seat. 

There are two main issues that exist for pregnant women while in a car whether they are a driver or a passenger in the vehicle.  The first issue is if the pregnant woman is the driver.  If the driver gets into a car accident the main issue is that heightens the chances of injury to the fetus greatly is the steering wheel.  If the mothers stomach hits the steering wheel there is a chance of placenta uterine detachment.  The placenta is attached by a very delicate lining and if this lining is hit with force, such as hitting the steering wheel in a car accident, there is a high chance that the placenta will detach from the uterine lining.  If this occurs the baby loses oxygen and can no longer breath and in most cases will die.  The second issue for pregant women can occur in the driver seat or passenger seat.  The impact alone of a car accident can kill a fetus but one thing that makes the chances of fetal death higher is when seat belts are not worn or if they are worn improperly.  Seat belts were created to be worn on the bony part of your body.  Many people who are pregnant feel uncomfortable wearing a seat belt across their stomach when they are pregnant because it is uncomfortable but the correct place to wear the seat belt is across your pelvic bone area which will decrease the chances of hurting you and the fetus incase of a automobile accident.

Even with taking preventative measures such as wearing a seat belt in the correct place car accidents are still accountable for a large percentage of fetal deaths and the larger the baby is the larger the stomach is and the larger the stomach is the closer to the steering wheel the baby and placenta will be.  Researchers are currently trying to develop a computerized robot that can replicate a pregnant woman, fetus and placenta and the effects a car crash has on all of them.  In doing so the researchers hope to develop a device to protect pregnant women and fetus' better in car accidents.

The loss of a fetus in automobile accidents has not been accounted for in years prior to this year has not been considered in studies up until recently.  It is estimated that 300 to 1,000 unborn children are killed each year in car accidents.  If you were a victim of a car accident and were left with injuries or if your fetus was killed in a car accident you are entitled to start a lawsuit and are entitled to compensation for your loss due to a drivers negligence.  If you are a resident in New York or New Jersey and would like to discuss your legal options with a personal injury attorney feel free to contact Frank J. Dito Jr. Staten Island injury lawyer at 718.979.4300 or 800.976.4904 or fill out web form.