Car Accident Lawyer
While any car accident might be traumatic, that level of fear and anxiety rise to astronomical levels when you are pregnant. For most expectant mothers, it is impossible to go even a second without thinking about the tiny human growing inside, and that does not change when in a collision. If anything, the sense of awareness and urgency is heightened. Therefore, what should an expectant mother do when she is involved in a car crash?
- Stay Calm and Asses Your Injuries
The first and most important thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to breathe and stay calm. You need to assess your injuries, and the only way to do that thoroughly is to calm your immediate fight-or-flight response. When you can, check for bleeding and note any harm to your abdomen.
- Call 911
Now, find your phone and call 911. The operator will want to know what the situation is and what your potential injuries are. At this time, inform them you are pregnant and request a paramedic.
- Check on Others
After calling 911, if you can do so without risking further injury, check on the well-being of your passengers. You can also, if you are well enough, get out of your vehicle and check on the other driver and their passengers.
- Get to Safety
Once you have assessed your situation and helped those you could, you need to move to a safer place. This does not need to be anywhere far away. You can walk to a median or the side of the road. Mainly, you want to be out of the way of traffic and your vehicle to avoid the risk of further injury.
- Document the Scene
Next, get the contact information of the other driver and any potential witnesses. Also, you can take this time to photograph or make a video of the scene, recording the damage to your vehicle and your injuries.
- Wait for the Police and Ambulance
Then, you wait. While it may seem like forever, police and paramedics should arrive on the scene relatively quickly.
- Go to the Hospital
If you have experienced any injury, it is a good idea to go to the hospital with the paramedics to ensure your baby is safe. However, if you decide not to ride in the ambulance, then you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Car accidents are traumatic events, but when you’re pregnant, the trauma is magnified. For that reason, after an accident, you should contact an auto accident lawyer to discuss a potential claim for your injuries.