Women who progress in their pregnancies may wonder if they need to restrict their driving to ensure the safety of their offspring. Most pregnant women do not need to curtail their driving during the course of their pregnancies. Many pregnant women do suffer from increased tiredness and more relaxed reaction times. If you are seeking legal representation regarding a car accident, contact a reputable car accident law firm to schedule a free consultation.
We can discuss the facts of your case and how you can seek financial compensation for your injuries if you suffered injuries while pregnant. If you are pregnant, you should not restrict your driving activities unless you are experiencing symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and respiratory congestion. Experiencing these symptoms while pregnant and then choosing to drive an automobile can make it more likely that you will suffer injuries during a traffic collision.
A pregnancy should not preclude a woman from driving an automobile and carrying out errands. Most women drive automobiles during every stage of pregnancy. Some women who are in the latter stages of their pregnancy may be hesitant to drive out of fear that their babies may be at risk of serious bodily injury.
Some women may be more likely to put their babies at risk of injury while driving an automobile. A pregnant woman may need to understand that under no circumstances should she drive an automobile. It is quite common for pregnant women to experience varying levels of nausea and gastrointestinal pain during different phases of pregnancy. If a woman cannot physically sit in the driver’s seat of an automobile, she should not drive.
Other pregnant women may only experience severe symptoms during particular times, and these women should limit their driving to those times when they feel stable and healthy. Any time a person travels in an automobile, they are at risk of serious bodily injury or death. Pregnant women should assess these risks and decide if they want to risk their offspring’s health. Minor traffic accidents can cause severe damage to an infant in the mother’s womb. Every pregnant woman who experiences any type of car accident should seek medical attention immediately.
Pregnant Women Should Make Planned and Structured Breaks When Driving
All pregnant women should understand that sitting for extended periods while pregnant can produce physical pain, health issues, and discomfort. Many different types of health problems can arise during pregnancies. For example, pregnant women may be at greater risk of suffering from blood clots. Long periods of being stationary can increase the likelihood of blood clots occurring.
Health risks to pregnant women arise when they remain stationary and motionless for many hours. If a woman drives a car to the supermarket and back home, it is unlikely that she will experience any sudden blood clots or other health issues while running such an errand. Therefore, a pregnant woman should not drive for two or more hours due to the health risks associated with such prolonged periods of sitting.
Every pregnant woman should get out of the automobile and walk around several times while traveling in a car for long periods of time. Regular periods of walking can reduce the risk of serious injury to both the mother and the child. Contact an injury law firm today to schedule a free consultation. You may have suffered injuries while pregnant and need to pursue financial compensation for your injuries and any injuries to your child.
Call our firm at (888) 488-1391 to learn more about our legal services. The accident attorneys at Arash Law led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq have decades of experience representing pregnant women who have suffered injuries during car accidents. We have recovered over $500 million for clients throughout California. If a pregnant woman cannot take periodic breaks from driving or traveling every thirty minutes, then, at an absolute minimum, a pregnant woman should get out of the car and walk around at two-hour intervals.
Eating, stretching, and walking are good activities to engage in during these periodic stops. Short episodes of moderate exercise can improve the circulatory system, reduce pain, and decrease inflammation. Pregnant women should also wear loose-fitting clothes to make themselves more comfortable during long drives.
Conditions That Commonly Cause Problems for Pregnant Drivers
What follows are some of the most common physical and mental conditions that can make it difficult for pregnant women to drive:
- Unexpected contractions during the later stages of pregnancy
- Extreme tiredness
- Nausea and gastrointestinal pain
- Decreased ability to concentrate
These physical and mental conditions can impair a pregnant woman’s ability to operate a vehicle. Car accidents may be more likely when pregnant women are suffering from these symptoms.
Pregnant Women and Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is more likely to arise when a pregnant woman remains motionless for long periods of time. Every pregnant woman should perform the following actions while they are driving a vehicle or traveling in an automobile:
- Pregnant women should move the steering wheel toward the center of their chest and away from the stomach. Also, pregnant women should push the seat back so that the stomach does not touch the steering wheel. However, pregnant women should not push the seat back so far that they cannot operate the brake pedal and gas pedal.
- Pull over and walk around in ninety-minute intervals. If a pregnant woman is a passenger in the vehicle, one good action to take is to perform exercises involving her legs and ankles. Any movement or brief exercise can help reduce the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis.
- Pregnant women should not drive alone during the final three months of their pregnancy. Pregnant women should have someone else drive if they need to run errands or shop.
- Pregnant women should eat healthy food such as vegetables and fruit. Foods high in fat and cholesterol may increase episodes of tiredness and confusion.
- Remain hydrated and avoid caffeinated beverages.
Pregnant Women Should Not Perform the Following Ten Actions While Driving
What follows are ten actions pregnant women should not perform while driving.
- Placing a Newborn Baby in a Vehicle Without Safety Restraints – Once a pregnant woman leaves the hospital after giving birth, she should always place her baby in a safety restraint device. No baby should be allowed inside a car that does not contain a safety restraint system.
- Failing to See a Physician If You Suffer Injuries During a Minor Traffic Accident – You must see a medical professional if you are involved in any traffic accident. Even minor traffic accidents can cause serious bodily injury to a newborn baby.
- Placing Blankets or Sheets to Loosen a Seat Belt – Do not place sheets or blankets on the seat belt to alter its length or ability to function properly.
- Not Heeding the Professional Advice of Physicians, Nurses, and Other Medical Staff – Do not brush off any advice provided to you by a physician, nurse, or another medical professional. You may be advised not to travel inside an automobile at all under any circumstance. Pregnant women may need to refrain from traveling by automobile during the entire term of their pregnancy.
- Not Having Any Food or Beverages While Traveling in An Automobile – Pregnant women may be at risk of serious injury if they travel in a vehicle without food or beverages. Proper hydration and healthy foods can reduce painful symptoms associated with long-term travel.
- Failing to Alter the Steering Wheel to Protect an Unborn Baby – Changing the position of the seats in your automobile may be necessary to protect an unborn baby. Extending the distance between the steering wheel and the unborn baby can prevent serious bodily injury and death in case an accident occurs. Also, the headrest should be situated comfortably against the driver or passenger. The side mirrors should also be altered to ensure that the driver and passenger can see the blind spots beside the vehicle. Also, the steering wheel should sit toward the chest and not the stomach. It is also important not to place the steering wheel too close to the driver’s head.
- Not Getting Adequate Sleep or Engaging In Distracted Driving – Pregnant women should not drive if they experience extreme fatigue. Distracted driving can also endanger the life of the baby. Drivers should not text while driving or imbibe alcohol while driving. Applying makeup while driving and eating while driving are also dangerous forms of distracted driving. Pregnant women should not change tires or move luggage from an automobile because these activities can increase the risk of serious bodily injury.
- Not Ceasing to Drive Once Your Stomach Gets Too Close to the Steering Wheel – Pregnant women should not drive an automobile if the steering wheel is close to the stomach. If the steering wheel and seat cannot be adjusted so that the steering wheel sits away from the stomach, a pregnant woman should not operate the vehicle.
- Failing to Heed the Advice of a Physician or Other Medical Professional – Many pregnant women can drive during their pregnancies without endangering the unborn baby’s life. Sometimes, however, a physician or other medical professional may recommend that a pregnant woman not drive an automobile. Most women are advised not to drive during the final weeks of their pregnancy.
- Failing to Use Safety Restraints – Pregnant women can protect themselves during accidents by using adequate safety restraints. A lower section of a safety restraint should sit beneath the stomach and away from the hips. Wearing a safety belt in the proper manner can prevent serious bodily injury to both the mother and the child. Most mothers are advised to purchase a baby seat before delivering a baby. Fitting a baby seat in a vehicle before the child is born can reduce the stress and anxiety associated with the period of time immediately following a birth.
Contact Our Firm Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
Drivers are always at risk of suffering serious bodily injury or death. Traveling on highways can lead to unpredictable events that cause serious accidents. Serious bodily injury to an unborn child can be devastating to the mother. The mother herself may also suffer a serious bodily injury during a traffic accident.
If you are a pregnant mother and were involved in a traffic collision, contact our legal team today to schedule a free consultation. The traffic accident attorneys at Arash Law headed by Arash Khorsandi understand every stage of a personal injury case. We have decades of experience representing injured clients in California.
We serve clients in San Francisco, Riverside, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sherman Oaks, and throughout California. Our accident attorneys have recovered over $500 million for clients in California.
