Pregnant Drivers & Car Crashes in Texas: Medical & Legal Steps for Pregnant Women After an Accident

Driving through San Antonio can feel like a gauntlet, especially when navigating the heavy traffic on Loop 1604 or the I-10 exchange near the Medical Center. For most people, a fender bender is a major headache. For a pregnant woman, a collision is a terrifying event that puts two lives at risk. The physical forces involved in a crash can cause unique complications that require immediate medical attention and specific legal considerations under Texas statutes.

Knowing exactly what to do in the minutes and days following a crash can change the trajectory of your recovery. We understand the anxiety that comes with these situations. This guide outlines the essential medical and legal steps for pregnant women after an accident to help ensure the safety of your pregnancy and the strength of your legal standing.

Immediate Medical Priorities After a San Antonio Collision

The first priority after any crash is the health of the mother and the unborn child. Even if you feel fine, the hidden nature of pregnancy complications means you should never skip a medical evaluation. The force of an airbag deployment or the tightening of a seatbelt can cause injuries that do not show symptoms right away.

Seek Emergency Care Immediately

You should go directly to an emergency room or your obstetrician. San Antonio offers specialized care at facilities like University Hospital or Methodist Hospital, which have dedicated maternal-fetal medicine capabilities. Inform the medical staff immediately about your pregnancy and your gestational age. They will likely perform an ultrasound or electronic fetal monitoring to check the baby’s heart rate and look for signs of distress.

Watch for Warning Signs

In the hours following the accident, stay vigilant. Contact a doctor immediately if you experience vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, abdominal pain, or a noticeable change in your baby’s movement. These could be signs of placental abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterus. This condition is a medical emergency that requires swift intervention.

Understanding Texas Personal Injury Law for Pregnant Women

Texas law provides a framework for seeking compensation when someone else’s negligence causes a crash. For pregnant victims, the legal landscape involves specific statutes that recognize the unique nature of their injuries.

The Civil Practice and Remedies Code

Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.002, a person can bring a cause of action for damages if the injury was caused by a wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default. This applies to car accidents where another driver failed to follow traffic laws or was distracted. Crucially, Texas law allows for claims involving the injury or death of an unborn child at any stage of gestation, provided the legal requirements for a wrongful death or personal injury claim are met.

Proportionate Responsibility in Texas

Texas uses a modified comparative negligence rule, also called proportionate responsibility. Under Section 33.001 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you can recover damages when it is deemed that your percentage of responsibility for the crash is not greater than 50 percent. If a jury finds you are 20 percent at fault, your total compensation will be reduced by 20 percent. This is why gathering evidence at the scene, such as photos of the vehicles and contact information for witnesses, is so important for your case.

Common Pregnancy-Related Injuries in Car Accidents

The physical impact of a car crash can lead to complications that non-pregnant drivers do not face. These injuries often require expensive, ongoing medical monitoring that should be documented for your insurance claim.

• Placental Abruption: This condition is when the placenta peels away from the inner wall of the uterus. The baby can be deprived of oxygen and it may lead to heavy bleeding in the mother.
• Uterine Rupture: While rare, the blunt force trauma of a steering wheel or seatbelt can cause the uterus to tear. This is a life-threatening event for both mother and child.
• Preterm Labor: The stress and physical trauma of a collision can trigger early labor. If the baby is born too early, they may face long-term health challenges and significant NICU costs.
• High-Risk Pregnancy Status: Even if no immediate injury is found, the accident may classify your pregnancy as high-risk. This leads to more frequent doctor visits, specialized testing, and increased medical bills.

Legal Steps to Take After the Accident

While focusing on your health is paramount, taking specific legal steps will help protect your ability to hold the at-fault driver accountable.

File a Police Report

In San Antonio, the police or the Bexar County Sheriff should be called to the scene. A formal crash report provides an objective account of what happened. Ensure the officer knows you are pregnant, so this detail is included in the official record. You can later obtain a copy of this report through the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Report Online Purchase System.

Document Everything

Keep a detailed log of every medical appointment, the names of the doctors you see, and any symptoms you experience. Save all receipts for prescriptions or medical devices. Because pregnancy claims can involve future medical needs for the child, keeping these records organized is vital.

Avoid Early Insurance Settlements

Insurance adjusters may contact you shortly after the crash to offer a quick settlement. It is often unwise to sign anything until you know the full extent of the impact on your pregnancy. Some complications do not manifest until weeks later. A settlement usually requires you to waive your right to any future compensation, which could leave you without resources if the baby requires specialized care after birth.

How Liability Is Determined in Texas

To recover compensation, we must prove that the other driver was negligent. This involves showing that the driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty by speeding, running a red light, or texting, and that this breach caused your injuries.

Texas is an at-fault state. This means the person responsible for the accident is liable for the damages. However, Texas also requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act. If the other driver’s insurance is insufficient to cover the high costs of pregnancy complications, you may need to look into your own Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage.

Compassionate Support for San Antonio Families

At Crash Angels, we recognize that a car accident during pregnancy is more than just a legal case; it is a deeply personal crisis. As an all-female personal injury law firm, we bring a perspective of empathy and dedication to every client we serve. We make it our mission to help you recover physically and financially by handling the complexities of the legal system while you focus on your health and your baby.

Our team is truly bilingual; we speak proper Spanish and are ready to assist our community in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. You can reach us at 210-801-9314 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case. Let us stand by your side during this challenging time.