What Happens If You’re Pregnant and Injured in a Florida Car Accident?

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Health, Your Baby, and Your Legal Rights

When you’re pregnant, everything changes. You watch what you eat. You plan for doctor visits. You do your best to protect the growing life inside you. But no matter how careful you are, there’s one danger you can’t always avoid: other drivers.

Every year in Florida, thousands of car accidents involve pregnant women. Whether it’s a rear-end crash on I-95 or a T-bone collision at a busy intersection in Palm Beach County, the risks are amplified when an unborn child is involved. Even a seemingly minor accident can cause serious harm to both the mother and the baby.

If you were injured in a crash while pregnant, you’re likely overwhelmed—not just physically, but emotionally and financially. You may be dealing with pain, medical uncertainty, or fear about what comes next. That’s where a Florida car accident attorney can make a difference. At The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, P.A., we focus on cases like these because we know how much is at stake.

Why Car Accidents Are So Dangerous During Pregnancy

Pregnancy doesn’t protect you from trauma—in fact, it makes certain injuries more dangerous. The sudden jolt of a car crash can affect not only your body, but also the delicate conditions that sustain fetal development.

Depending on the force of impact, a crash during pregnancy may cause:

Placental abruption: One of the most serious risks. The placenta separates from the uterine wall, which can lead to heavy bleeding, fetal distress, or miscarriage.
Uterine rupture: In severe cases, particularly with high-impact trauma, the uterus can tear—posing a life-threatening risk to both the mother and the baby.
Preterm labor: Stress and trauma can trigger early labor, sometimes leading to NICU stays or long-term developmental issues.
Internal bleeding and organ damage: These can be difficult to detect initially but may cause serious complications if not addressed quickly.
Fetal trauma or oxygen loss: Sudden impact can interfere with the baby’s oxygen supply, leading to potential brain injury or developmental harm.

Even if you feel fine after the crash, you should always get checked by a doctor. Some conditions, like placental abruption, don’t show symptoms right away but can become deadly without early intervention.

What to Do After a Crash If You’re Pregnant in Florida

When you’re pregnant and involved in an accident, your first concern should always be your health and your baby’s safety. But it’s also important to take steps that protect your legal rights and set the foundation for any future claim.

Here’s what you should do immediately after the crash:

Call 911 and request emergency medical attention. Let responders know you’re pregnant.
Go to the hospital—even if your symptoms seem minor. Request fetal monitoring and imaging to assess the baby’s condition.
Tell your OB/GYN what happened and attend any follow-up appointments they recommend.
Document everything: Take photos, gather witness names, and save any crash-related paperwork.
Avoid speaking to insurance adjusters without legal guidance. They may downplay your injuries or pressure you into a low settlement.
Contact a lawyer who has experience with complex injury cases and understands the unique medical and legal issues surrounding pregnancy-related claims.

Your future medical needs could go well beyond the initial ER visit. That’s why it’s important to take the long view and speak with someone who can help you recover full and fair compensation—not just what the insurance company offers.

Can You File a Lawsuit for Pregnancy-Related Injuries in Florida?

Yes. Florida law allows pregnant crash victims to pursue compensation for both their own injuries and any harm to their unborn child. These cases are often complex, but they’re absolutely worth pursuing if another driver’s negligence caused the accident.

You may be able to recover compensation for:

Emergency medical treatment
OB/GYN care and fetal monitoring
Hospital stays or NICU costs
Pain and suffering related to the pregnancy
Emotional distress and anxiety
Lost income during recovery
Long-term care if the baby is born with medical needs
Wrongful death damages if the crash results in miscarriage or stillbirth

These are not routine claims. Insurance companies often push back hard on cases involving pregnancy. They may argue that the injuries were unrelated or unavoidable, or that the mother’s medical condition complicates the case too much to pursue. But at The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, P.A., we don’t let insurers decide what’s “worth it.” We build strong cases backed by medical evidence and fight for every dollar our clients deserve.

The Financial and Emotional Cost of a Crash During Pregnancy

Pregnancy already comes with its own medical costs, emotional stress, and physical challenges. When you add crash-related injuries to the equation, the impact can grow exponentially. A car accident during pregnancy can result in both higher financial losses and deeper emotional trauma than a typical injury claim.

You may be facing:

Multiple ER visits or extended hospital monitoring
Emergency OB/GYN care or fetal stress testing
Prescription medications or imaging not covered by standard insurance
Missed time from work or early maternity leave
In-home assistance if you’re placed on bed rest
Surgical delivery, such as a C-section, instead of a planned birth
Mental health treatment for anxiety, depression, or trauma
NICU care or long-term developmental services for your baby

These costs can escalate quickly—especially if the baby is born early or suffers an injury. That’s why it’s so important to work with a car accident lawyer who understands how to document these damages and fight for compensation that reflects the true scope of what you’ve endured.

Mr. Shomo works with medical professionals, life care planners, and economic experts to build cases that fully account for both immediate and long-term needs. This ensures that families aren’t left with devastating bills or lost opportunities after an already traumatic experience.

How Trimester Affects Risk and What Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

The stage of your pregnancy can have a significant effect on the severity and type of complications that may follow a car accident. As pregnancy progresses, the uterus becomes more vulnerable to trauma, and fetal development becomes more complex. That’s why even a minor crash should be taken seriously, no matter what trimester you’re in.

First Trimester: Internal bleeding and miscarriage are the primary concerns. Since the uterus is still low in the pelvis, direct trauma is less likely but still dangerous.
Second Trimester: The risk of placental abruption increases, and complications from stress, trauma, or preterm labor become more likely.
Third Trimester: With the baby’s larger size and more exposed position, the chance of fetal injury, oxygen disruption, or early delivery rises significantly. Even low-speed crashes can trigger contractions or reduce fetal movement.

Regardless of the trimester, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention after a crash while pregnant. Some symptoms may seem minor at first but could signal a serious complication. Pay close attention to:

Abdominal pain or cramping
Vaginal bleeding or unusual discharge
Decreased fetal movement or changes in activity
Dizziness or fainting
Headaches or vision changes
Painful urination or urinary incontinence
Swelling of the face, hands, or feet
Chest or back pain
Nausea or vomiting
Shortness of breath
Bruising on the belly or chest from seatbelt impact

These signs may indicate placental abruption, internal bleeding, fetal distress, or other serious conditions.

Do not wait for symptoms to worsen—seek emergency care and inform all providers that you were recently in a car crash.

A thorough medical evaluation not only protects your health and your baby’s wellbeing, but also creates a documented record that supports your legal case if you decide to pursue compensation.

Why These Cases Require a High Level of Legal and Medical Insight

Not every lawyer is equipped to handle a pregnancy-related car accident case. These claims often require a deep understanding of both personal injury law and maternal-fetal medicine. That’s why Mr. Shomo works closely with board-certified physicians, OB/GYN experts, and nurse paralegals to fully investigate and document these cases.

This approach has helped Mr. Shomo secure major results in high stakes cases, including a $10.9 million recovery in a car accident/product liability case and $8.2 million in a semi-truck accident with multiple surgeries. While every case is different, these results show what’s possible when the right team is in place.

Mr. Shomo handles every case personally. He doesn’t pass your claim off to junior associates or rush you through the process. He listens to your concerns, answers your questions, and prepares every case as if it’s going to trial—because that’s how you get insurers to take a claim seriously.

What If the Crash Causes a Miscarriage or Stillbirth?

One of the most heartbreaking outcomes of a crash during pregnancy is the loss of the unborn child. Florida law does allow parents to bring a wrongful death claim in certain circumstances, but the legal standards are strict.

Whether a wrongful death claim is possible often depends on gestational age and how Florida courts define the legal status of the fetus. Even if a separate wrongful death claim is not available, you can still pursue significant compensation through a personal injury lawsuit that includes emotional distress and pregnancy-related medical costs.

These are sensitive and painful cases. That’s why Mr. Shomo and his dedicated legal team handle such cases with compassion and care—always respecting the emotional weight our clients carry while fighting for justice in the courtroom.

You Don’t Have to Go Through This Alone

If you were injured in a car accident while pregnant in Florida, the path forward may feel overwhelming. Between doctor visits, legal questions, and emotional stress, it’s easy to feel like no one’s listening. That’s where we come in.

Mr. Shomo and his team have helped clients across Palm Beach County and throughout the state of Florida secure the resources they need to recover, plan for the future, and hold negligent drivers accountable. We know what it takes to win these cases. And we’re ready to put that experience to work for you.

There’s no cost to speak with us. No pressure to commit. Just honest answers and a team that takes your case personally. Contact The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, P.A. today to schedule your free consultation.

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