Personal Injury Lawyer
Any car accident can lead to injuries. Some injuries are minor and require little attention to recover, but others need visits to a doctor and plenty of time to heal. Getting an injury while pregnant can be more frightening, as your concern won’t just be about your own well-being, but that of the child’s. You should know ahead of time what to do in the case of an accident and how to get checked for injuries, even if you don’t seem hurt after initial inspection. Here are the most important steps to take after the accident.
Call 911
Any driver who gets in an accident should contact the police. The officer who arrives on the scene can take statements from each driver, which will be later made into a report that you can use to prove who was responsible for the crash. If there are any serious injuries, a dispatcher can walk you through important steps as you wait for emergency services.
Visit a Doctor
If you’re seriously hurt at the accident scene, inform the responding officers and aid that you are pregnant before you’re taken to the emergency room. Not all injuries occur immediately, though, and you should seek out a doctor shortly after the accident regardless of if you think you are injured. If you suffer from abdominal pain, bleeding, nausea, vomiting, headaches, swelling or other abnormal symptoms, seek medical attention immediately, as these signs could indicate problems with the fetus.
Collect Vital Information
If you are able, collect evidence from the scene that may be used later during a claim, especially if the other driver was negligent in causing the accident. Photos of the accident and any property damage can be beneficial in proving your claim to insurance investigators. Witness statements can also be incredibly valuable in recording how the accident happened.
Contact Insurance
Call your insurance to report the accident, even if it wasn’t your fault. They can inform you what to do at the accident scene and what to say. You can also ask about your insurance policy and coverage.
Consult With a Lawyer
Being involved in a car accident while pregnant adds the complicated factor of the baby into your case. You may have to pay steeper medical bills or face other consequences, and the other driver’s insurance company may try to pay you less than you deserve. Seeking legal advice from a car accident lawyer, like from David & Philpot, PL, can take some of the strain off you while still allowing you to move in the right direction.