The results of a new study from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine holds some bad news for mothers and their babies – it shows that the most common cause of fetal mortality and morbidity is car accidents. Hopefully this will serve as a wakeup call to mothers to ensure they are doing everything they can to keep their children safe – and themselves safe if they are pregnant.
More About the Results of the Study
The report shows that researchers discovered that stillbirth, preterm birth, and placental eruption are all too common in cases of car accidents involving pregnant women. Additionally, they found that these risks of trauma were much less if the woman was both wearing a seatbelt and was in a vehicle with airbags.
This is an important finding because some people believe that restraints – specifically, seatbelts – have the potential to be harmful if a pregnant woman is injured in a car accident. The research was clear: A pregnant woman who does not wear a seatbelt and is involved in an accident is three times more likely to suffer a stillbirth.
Doctors Should Advise Their Patients on Best Practices
The researchers in the book suggest that it is up to doctors to ensure that their pregnant patients know about the risk they could be in if they are in a car accident and what the long-term results could be on their pregnancy. As mentioned above, many women do not realize that wearing a seatbelt not only isn’t detrimental but can actually save their unborn child’s life.
Recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has several recommendations for pregnant women to protect themselves and their children. First, they recommended putting the seat back as far as is possible and safe. Second, they recommended that the mother always wears a seatbelt.
If the pregnant woman is driving, they recommended that she checks the pedals before leaving to ensure she can comfortably reach them with her seat adjusted. Finally, she should try to ensure there is always at least ten inches between her chest and the steering wheel. If she cannot do so then she should not drive.
Have You Been Injured in a Car Accident?
If you are a pregnant woman who has suffered a serious injury then your next step should be to call The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000. If the accident that caused your injury was even partially the fault of another party, you might have grounds to demand compensation for your damages. We can begin with a free case assessment so you know what your options are. Call now and let us get to work for you.
