South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
A recent early-morning car accident in Miami killed three motorists, including a mom-to-be and her unborn child. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened when a vehicle, traveling the wrong way on Interstate 75 between Miramar Parkway and Miami Gardens Drive, collided with an oncoming vehicle. The accident closed the Interstate for five hours, according to WSVN 7. Police were notified about the wrong-way car but were unable to locate it before the accident.
Emergency responders transported three of the injured motorists to Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH). The pregnant mother and her unborn child were later pronounced dead at the Ryder Trauma Center at JMH. The other two victims remain hospitalized.
Our Sunrise car accident attorneys understand how stressful being an expecting parent can be, but when you’re traveling among unpredictable motorists the stress level can be sky high. There are specific safety precautions that an expecting mother can take to help keep her and her unborn child safe on our roadways.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are nearly 33,000 pregnant women involved in traffic accidents every year. Car accidents are the number one cause of death and serious trauma to women during a pregnancy.
Here are some tips to help keep you safe in a motor vehicle while you’re pregnant:
-Buckle up the right way. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pregnant women should wear their seat belt with the shoulder portion over the collarbone. The lap portion of the seat belt should be worn under the abdomen and across the upper thighs, making sure it’s placed as low as possible. Never put the seat belt over the stomach. A pregnant woman should never put a seat belt behind the arm or back.
-Be a passenger as much as possible. As a pregnancy progresses, the uterus will get closer and closer to the steering wheel, eventually placing it in a potion to be crushed in the event of an accident. Ride as a passenger as much as possible.
-Stay far from the wheel. If a pregnant mother has to drive a vehicle, it’s important to keep the seat as far from the steering wheel as possible. Expecting mothers are urged to stay at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel.
-Don’t lean forward. This will minimize movement in the event of the accident. It will also allow the airbag to operate properly.
Don’t shy away from airbag. The NHTSA reports that both airbags and seat belts, when used together, offer an expecting mother the highest level of protection possible.
Seek the advice of a doctor if you’re an expecting mother and have been involved in an accident. The CDC reports that expecting mothers that are involved in car accidents and have not documented their injuries are at a higher risk of preterm labor.
The Hollywood car accident attorneys at Freeman & Mallard have been successfully and aggressively representing accident victims and their families in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Ft. Pierce /Port St. Lucie for years. Call us today to schedule a no-obligation appointment to discuss your case at 1-800-529-2368.
More Blog Entries:
Children at Risk for Severe Injury in Fort Lauderdale Stroller Accidents, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, June 24, 2011
New Report Ranks Florida First in Fatal Pedestrian Accidents, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, June 7, 2011