It’s essential to prioritize your health and the well-being of your unborn child if you are pregnant while in a New Jersey car accident. Contacting the police, seeking medical treatment, and reaching out to a lawyer are three vital steps to remember after an accident.
Navigating through a normal pregnancy necessitates numerous medical check-ups to ensure optimal health for your baby. This becomes even more substantial when you’re in a car accident. Read on to learn more about the steps you should take if you’re pregnant during a New Jersey car accident.
Contact the Police to Respond
Call 911 and explain you’re pregnant and were just in a car accident. They will send the police and a medical response team. Don’t assume everything is ok until medical personnel have examined you at the scene. You’ll also want an accident report to pursue a personal injury claim should the other driver be at fault.
New Jersey law stipulates accidents resulting in personal injury or property damage exceeding $500 must be reported to the local police department. That means if the police didn’t come to the scene, you must make a report.
Gather Evidence of the Accident and Your Damages
Compensation is an important consideration following an accident. Reimbursement can cover medical care costs, lost time from work, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Much of this compensation depends on the quality of evidence collected. Documentation proving your out-of-pocket expenses for medical care and property repair is crucial. Are there any witnesses who stopped? Be sure you get their contact information.
If you can do so safely, without risk to you or your fetus, try to get a few pictures of the scene. Remember to take photos of vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, and any other elements that might be important down the line.
Immediate Medical Attention Is Key
One of the most critical steps when pregnant while in a New Jersey car accident is to seek immediate medical care. Even if you believe you’re uninjured, your unborn child might have sustained injuries that are undetectable without professional medical intervention. A car accident can trigger complications ranging from low birth weight to more severe consequences. One serious consequence that can happen is placental abruption, where the placenta prematurely separates from the uterus. It can lead to premature birth, severe maternal bleeding, and sometimes, fetal death.
Maintain Regular Medical Check-ups and Monitoring
The quick pace of a baby’s development necessitates regularly monitoring your health, especially after a car accident. Be vigilant about symptoms, including the following:
- Vaginal bleeding;
- Persistent abdominal pain;
- Early signs of labor;
- Severe and continuous nausea;
- Fainting;
- Dizziness;
- Blurry or spotty vision;
- Sudden swelling of the face, hands, or feet; or
- Decrease or change in fetal movement.
Seek immediate medical attention for any of these symptoms and follow all medical advice.
Hire a New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer
Pregnancy should be joyful, and an accident should not take that away. But you don’t need to deal with the recovery process alone. Hiring a New Jersey car accident attorney brings some peace of mind knowing you have someone advocating for your rights.
A skilled attorney will likely help you recover more compensation than you could independently. It’s best to hire a lawyer immediately following the accident, no matter what the other driver’s insurance company tells you. Remember, that insurance adjuster is looking out for their company’s bottom line—not your best interests.
Immediately hiring an attorney reduces the risk of complications that might compromise your chances for the best settlement. For example, the other driver’s insurance will push you to give a recorded statement hoping you say something that indicates you are partially at fault for the accident. Don’t agree to a recorded statement without first speaking with an attorney.
Remember, you only have a limited time to recover damages. The legal deadline to sue for injuries from a car accident in New Jersey is typically only two years. That can fly by, especially when dealing with a new baby. There are also some exceptions to that deadline which could shorten the filing time. Don’t inadvertently jeopardize your compensation by waiting to hire an attorney and missing the deadline.
Contact Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C.
At Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., our attorneys stand ready to help if you suffered injuries in a New Jersey car accident during your pregnancy. We will fight tirelessly for your rights and provide support and reassurance during this particularly challenging period of your life.
Facing the aftermath of a car accident while pregnant can be daunting, and the myriad of concerns about your child’s health can be overwhelming. You do not have to bear this burden alone. Let us handle the legal aspects of your case so that you can focus on your health and the well-being of your unborn child. With more than three decades of combined legal experience, we know what it takes to build a solid case to maximize your potential settlement.
Contact us to schedule an initial consultation so we can review your case and discuss the best legal options.
David Pierguidi and Jared Glugeth understand how hard it may be for you and your family following an accident resulting from someone’s negligent actions. Get the medical treatment you need right away and then call our law firm at any time of day for answers to your questions.
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