When you are pregnant, a car crash puts two lives at risk. A collision that causes even minor bruising for a non-pregnant driver can trigger placental abruption, premature labor, or pregnancy loss. Bowling Green, Kentucky law recognizes these unique consequences, and your legal claim may be far more significant than a standard personal injury case. At Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers, we handle these cases with the seriousness and compassion they demand.
Why Pregnant Women Face Unique Risks in Crashes
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) identifies motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of traumatic maternal death in the United States. The specific risks include:
- Placental abruption — the placenta tears from the uterine wall, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the fetus; the leading cause of fetal death in maternal trauma and can be triggered by even moderate crash forces
- Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) — leads to early labor and premature birth
- Preterm labor — crash trauma can trigger contractions hours or even days after an accident in a mother who felt fine at the scene
- Direct fetal injury — particularly in the third trimester
- Uterine rupture — rare but life-threatening
Research published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery found that fetal loss can occur in crashes where the mother sustains no apparent injury. Any pregnant woman in a crash — no matter how minor it seems — needs immediate obstetric evaluation. See our blog on why minor crashes cause major consequences.
Seatbelts During Pregnancy
ACOG and NHTSA are unequivocal: seatbelts should be worn throughout pregnancy. The lap belt sits below the belly across the hip bones; the shoulder strap goes between the breasts and to the side of the abdomen — never behind the back. If you wore your belt incorrectly, the at-fault insurer may argue comparative fault to reduce your recovery. An experienced attorney can challenge that position. See our blog on seatbelt use and Bowling Green accident claims.
What to Do Immediately
- Call 911 — do not decline medical evaluation at the scene
- Tell EMS and hospital staff immediately that you are pregnant and how far along you are
- Request fetal monitoring — ACOG guidelines recommend at least four to six hours of continuous monitoring after significant trauma in the second or third trimester
- Keep all medical records — OB notes, ultrasounds, and fetal monitoring strips are the foundation of your claim
- Call Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers at (888) 782-9090 before giving any recorded statement to an insurer
The Legal Claims Available
Your Personal Injury Claim
All of your own damages are compensable: emergency and obstetric care, hospitalization, delivery complications caused by the crash, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A skilled attorney ensures anticipated future medical expenses are accounted for before any settlement is reached.
Fetal Injury: Claims for a Child Born Alive
Under Kentucky law, a child injured before birth who is subsequently born alive has a legal right to compensation for those prenatal injuries. Neurological damage, fractures, developmental delays — all can form the basis of a personal injury claim brought on the child’s behalf. Because this is a minor’s claim, the statute of limitations is tolled under KRS 413.170 until the child turns 18, but waiting that long is rarely in the family’s interest.
Wrongful Death for Pregnancy Loss
Under KRS 311.715, Kentucky recognizes the rights of unborn children at every stage of development. A stillbirth caused by another driver’s negligence may give rise to a wrongful death claim under KRS 411.130. The wrongful death filing deadline is one year under KRS 413.140. If you have suffered a pregnancy loss in a crash, call us immediately — this is not a situation where waiting is safe.
Future Costs for an Injured Child
When a child is born with accident-related disabilities, lifetime care costs — surgeries, therapies, special education, long-term care — can reach millions of dollars. We retain life care planners and economic experts to build these projections fully before any settlement is considered. See our child injury practice area for more on how we handle these cases.
Emotional Distress
The fear, grief, and trauma of a pregnancy complication caused by someone else’s negligence is fully compensable under Kentucky law — and can be substantial in cases involving pregnancy loss or a child born with lasting disabilities.
Contact Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Bowling Green accident, call (888) 782-9090 24/7 for a free consultation, or contact us online. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win big for you.
