Car Accidents During Pregnancy - St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

If you suffer an injury from a car accident during your pregnancy, talk to a St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible to know your legal rights.

During the second trimester (week 13 through week 27) of pregnancy, a woman’s risk of getting involved in a car accident is increased by 42 percent, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto. The risk reduces significantly during the third trimester and lowers further in the first year after the birth of the baby. The results of the study revealed that 1 in every 50 pregnant women is likely to be involved in a car accident during some point of her pregnancy, according to Dr. Donald Redelmeier of the University of Toronto, who led the study.

Car Accident Rates During Pregnancy

The study by the University of Toronto was conducted between 2006 and 2011 among over 500,000 women. During the study, the researchers analyzed statistics collected from hospitals at Ontario to find out how frequently the respondents were involved in serious accidents during the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy, during the first year after the baby was born, and during the three years before they conceived. It was found that an average 4.55 vehicle accidents occur per 1,000 women every year, compared to 2 accidents per 1,000 people, including men and women, every year.

In the first month of the second trimester, an average 7.7 vehicle accidents occur per 1,000 women drivers every year, while the accident rate for the entire second trimester is 6.5 per 1,000 women drivers per year, according to the study. Irrespective of their age, social, or financial status, all women are exposed to higher risk of getting involved in multiple vehicle accidents requiring hospitalization during the second trimester of pregnancy, according to the study.

Some people may think that it is usual for pregnant women to visit a hospital after even a minor accident to be sure about her baby’s condition. However, that was not the case, because car accident injuries did not increase for pregnant women who were traveling in a car that got involved in an accident.

What Makes the Second Trimester the Most Unsafe Period to Drive?

In an attempt to find out a reliable answer to this question, the researchers at the University of Toronto analyzed links of higher accident risks to the symptoms of pregnancy during the second trimester. They questioned whether physical symptoms of pregnancy, including nausea, irritation, inattentiveness, and drowsiness are to blame, or whether physiological symptoms play a role. However, it is important to note that physiological symptoms of pregnancy are more impactful in the later phase of pregnancy.

The Safest Time to Drive

Every year, an average 2.74 accidents occur per 1,000 women in their last month of pregnancy, making it the safest period to drive for the pregnant women or new moms, according to the study.

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

If you suffer an injury from a car accident during your pregnancy, talk to a St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible to know your legal rights. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242. We will be able to tell you whether you are entitled to compensation and how to file a claim.