Slipped and Fell Pregnant Injuries

If you slip and fall while you are pregnant, you will likely go into panic mode. That is completely understandable. As a mother, your natural instinct will be to protect your baby. But the best way to ensure your baby is safe is by staying calm and composed and then taking the proper steps after that.

Below are some quick tips to guide you.

Call 911 immediately and request an ambulance, or, if possible, have someone rush you to the nearest emergency room.

Having photos and videos of the dangerous condition would be helpful. However, you should not be too concerned about that if you are not able to obtain them. Your health comes first. If you can document the accident, that would add great value to your case. But if you cannot, then focus on getting medical attention first.

Next, notify the property owner or management about the slip and fall accident. While at it, do not discuss the specifics of your case. In addition, do not accept liability even if you feel you were partially responsible for the injury.

When you contact the property owner, manager, or any other individual in charge of the facility, they will likely have you file a report. In that case, you should only stick to the facts of the matter and not exaggerate anything.

Lastly, contact an experienced slip and fall attorney. The attorney will review the specifics of your case, and if it is valid, they can help fight for your right to compensation.

Slip and fall injuries can be life-threatening to the mother and the unborn child. However, you probably know that the baby is usually cushioned inside the womb against impact and irregular motion. But when it comes to slip and fall cases, you should not assume that the unborn baby is safe unless a doctor says so after conducting several tests.

Other than common injuries to the mother, targeting areas such as the neck, shoulder, and limb, studies have shown that the mother and an unborn child are usually at great risk during a slip and fall.

Some of these risks include the following:

• Miscarriages caused by uterine contractions
• Premature birth
• Transfer of the baby's blood cells into the mother's bloodstream, leading to a condition known as fetomaternal hemorrhage
• Placenta abruption, cutting the supply of oxygen to the unborn baby.

You must consider many factors before filing a lawsuit or claim. The most important aspect in such a case is where the incident occurred. For example, if you slipped and fell on someone's property, you can sue them for negligence. However, this will also depend on the circumstances that led to the slip and fall accident.

Most pregnant women are usually careful about where they walk or what they use to support themselves. It comes naturally from being a mother or a soon-to-be mother. But despite taking the extra precautions, the fact still remains that pregnant women are at a higher risk of slips and falls. For this reason, you expect property owners to take the necessary steps to protect pregnant women from such accidents.

But that is not always the case. It only takes a single case of negligence to harm a mother and the unborn baby. And when that happens, the negligent party should be held responsible.

You can bring a lawsuit against a business that caused the slip and fall accident. For example, suppose you slipped and fell after stepping on cooking oil sitting on the floor at a supermarket for hours. In that case, the supermarket can be held responsible.

In addition, let's say you slipped and fell at a residential property, such as the parking garage of your apartment complex. You can also file a slip and fall lawsuit against the property management company or owner of the property.

The possibilities are endless when determining liability for a slip and fall. Just as long as the other party owes you a duty of care and breaches this duty, leading to your injuries, you will have a legal case against them.

The kind of damage you may be able to recover will depend on the nature of your injuries. The unique circumstances of your case will also determine what damages you can recover.

Here is an overview of some damages you may be able to recover:

Medical Expenses

Let's first begin with your medical expenses. When you slip and fall while pregnant, you will definitely need immediate medical attention for the sake of your health and that of your unborn child. Do not assume that the child is safe; only a medical professional can confirm that after conducting several tests.

Keep in mind that most of these tests are expensive. And depending on the severity of the injury, you will need special medication and other medical procedures to protect you and your unborn baby.  

Your claim can include your past, current, and future medical expenses. This explains why it is always advisable to seek medical attention after an accident. The doctor will determine whether you need long-term treatment due to the accident.  

Lost Wages

You may need to take some time off from work to recover from the injury. In that case, you deserve compensation for the lost wages. The same applies if the injury will affect your future earning potential.

For example, let's say you suffered partial paralysis due to the accident, preventing you from working in the same environment you used to before the injury. If so, you could file a loss of earning potential claim.

Cost of Rehabilitative Treatment

The doctor will likely recommend other forms of rehabilitative treatment to help you recover from the slip and fall accident. You should be able to include the cost of these treatments in your claim. In addition, you can claim transportation costs to and from your medical appointment and other expenses relating to the incident.

Non-Economic Damages

Other than financial losses and expenses, you can also claim non-economic damages. These damages cover the non-financial effects of the injury. For instance, you may have been depressed and stressed about your child's health after the slip and fall.

Most mothers do not sleep peacefully after such incidents. Others require therapy and counseling on top of regular treatment for their injuries. When that happens, their quality of life significantly drops.

Pregnancy is supposed to be a beautiful thing for most mothers. But victims of slips and falls, pregnant mothers to be precise, are usually constantly worried about the unborn. For example, the child not kicking in the womb as they used to before the slip and fall incident is enough to trigger the mother's worst fears.

The bottom line is that no mother would want to go through such a horrible experience. In the unfortunate event that they find themselves nursing injuries and harboring stress caused by slip and fall’s while pregnant, they deserve to be sufficiently compensated.

There are many benefits of having a lawyer represent you in such a case as opposed to representing yourself. Let's briefly discuss these advantages.

A slip and fall lawyer will always have your best interests at heart. For this reason, you can trust them to fight for the compensation you need and deserve after such a horrible incident. Remember, most personal injury attorneys charge a contingent fee, meaning they only get paid when you recover. This system motivates the attorney to offer the best possible legal representation because if you win, they win, also.

Slip and fall cases are complicated. Things can become even more complex when a pregnant woman is a victim or if she loses the unborn baby due to complications arising from the accident. Such cases usually attract huge sums of money as compensation. But you should not expect the other party to go down without a fight.

In fact, they will likely hire some of the best defense attorneys to fight for their rather selfish interests. With an experienced attorney, you will not have to worry about losing the case due to a lack of proper legal representation. On the contrary, you can focus on recovering from your injuries, knowing that your attorney will handle the case on your behalf.

When you get injured in a slip and fall accident, you will likely not have the time and energy to pursue compensation for your injuries. Instead, you will need weeks or even months of bed rest. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be required to rest until the baby is born.

And in the unfortunate event that you lose the unborn child due to the slip and fall accident, you will likely not have the physical or mental energy to fight for your rights. Keep in mind that as you take time to recover both physically and mentally, you risk losing crucial evidence.  

The bottom line is that time is of the essence in these situations. You must beat crucial deadlines to preserve your right to fight for the compensation you deserve. Therefore, when you hire an attorney, you will focus on recovering mentally, emotionally, and physically as they handle these complex processes on your behalf.

Morgan and Morgan is the best injury firm to contact when looking for a competent and compassionate slip and fall lawyer to represent you in such a case. Here is why:

• We are the largest personal injury firm in the country, serving clients from state to state.
• We do not settle for anything less than what you deserve
• We have powerful legal resources to fight for you and your unborn child.
• Our attorneys understand state and federal regulations and how they apply to your situation.
• Our lawyers are not afraid to go to trial
• We have over 30 years of experience fighting for the injured
• We have recovered over $13 billion as compensation for our clients

The pain of getting injured while pregnant is indescribable. Worse still, no words can express the heartbreak of losing an unborn child. At such a time when you are heartbroken and unsure of how to handle the legal aspects of such a case, we can fight for you.

To provide the best possible legal advice and guidance, we will first need to review your case.

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