Cook County, IL Personal Injury Attorneys Understand the Risk of Fetal Death Associated with Auto Accidents

Illinois Accident Law Firm Helps Injured Plaintiffs Recover Damages

Motor vehicle accidents involving pregnant women have the potential to result in fetal and neonatal death due to seatbelt and airbag injuries, maternal injury and shock, pelvic fracture, and hypoxia.

According to a recent study, pregnant women in their second trimester have been found to have a higher risk of being involved in a serious motor vehicle accident than those in their first or third trimester, and the risk of fetal death generally increases with the severity of the injuries suffered by the mother.

Seatbelt Injuries

Seatbelt use has lowered the overall fatality rate associated with motor vehicle accidents, and pregnant women who did not wear a seatbelt during a crash are over seven times more likely to experience fetal death than those who had their seatbelt fastened. However, pregnant women must wear their seatbelts properly to avoid serious injury to themselves and their fetus.

According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately half of all fetal deaths could be prevented if pregnant women wore seatbelts properly – with the shoulder harness portion placed over the collarbone between the woman’s breasts, and the lap belt on the hips and across the upper thighs instead of above or below the abdomen. The NHTSA also stresses that education regarding proper seatbelt position should be a standard component of all prenatal care programs.

Contact a Cook County, IL Personal Injury Law Firm Today

Were you the victim of an accident that resulted in the death of a fetus? Contact the Illinois accident attorneys at Kelly Law Offices, LLC online or call 1-800-859-8800 to set up a free initial consultation to discuss your case today. There is never a fee unless you collect!