What To Do After a Car Accident When Pregnant

Your heart jumps, your hands shake, and the first thought hits hard: Is my baby okay? A car accident during pregnancy can feel terrifying, even if the crash looks minor. At the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec, we have helped injured Texans for decades, with service to accident victims dating back to 1996. This guide lays out simple steps to protect your health, your baby’s safety, and your legal rights in Texas.

We wrote this to be clear and practical, rather than filled with legal talk. Keep it handy, and please share it with a partner or family member, in case they need to follow it for you.

Immediate Actions Following a Car Accident

Your safety and your baby’s safety come first. Even minor impacts can cause hidden injuries, so treat every crash like it matters.

Immediately after the car crash, try to focus on a few key steps that will set you up for medical care and a clear record of what happened.

Get to a safe spot and call 911, then say you are pregnant.
Check yourself for pain, bleeding, dizziness, and any change in fetal movement.
Swap information, take photos, and wait for first responders.

If you feel lightheaded, sit and keep your phone nearby. Let others gather details if you can delegate the task.

Check for Injuries and Call for Help

Look for abdominal pain, cramping, vaginal bleeding, back or shoulder pain, or fluid leaking. If anything feels off, even a little, call 911 and tell dispatch you are pregnant. Paramedics can alert the hospital ahead of time, which speeds up monitoring for you and the baby.

If you are on a busy road, turn on hazard lights and stay buckled until help arrives, unless it is unsafe to remain in the car.

Document the Scene

If you are physically able, gather details while you wait for help. A clean paper trail supports both medical care and any claim you bring later.

Photos of all vehicles, inside and out, plus airbags, car seats, roadway, skid marks, and nearby signs or signals.
Contact and insurance for every driver, plus the license plates.
Names and numbers for witnesses, and any dash-cam or business camera footage.

Maintain a calm and factual tone when communicating with others. Avoid debating faults at the scene.

Seek Immediate Medical Evaluation

Head straight to the ER or an urgent care facility that handles pregnancy-related issues. Inform the triage nurse about the crash and your current stage of pregnancy. Doctors can check for placental issues, monitor the baby’s health, and treat injuries that may not be immediately apparent.

Schedule a follow-up appointment with your OB-GYN within one to two days. Ongoing monitoring gives peace of mind and ensures that your medical record accurately reflects any new symptoms that may develop later.

Potential Medical Complications to Monitor

Some pregnancy complications from a crash are delayed. You might feel okay at first, then notice symptoms hours or days later. Do not wait to get checked if anything feels wrong.

Placental Abruption

Placental abruption happens when the placenta pulls away from the uterine wall, which can cut off oxygen and nutrients to the baby. Even a low-speed collision can trigger this. Doctors will monitor for tenderness, bleeding, and changes in fetal heart rate, then determine the appropriate course of treatment or monitoring.

Uterine Rupture

Uterine rupture is a tear in the uterine wall. It is rare, but it can be life-threatening. The risk is higher for moms with a prior C-section or uterine surgery, so make sure hospital staff know your birth history.

Maternal Shock

Maternal shock means the body is not getting enough blood to the tissues because of blood loss or serious injury. Watch for the signs below and call 911 if you see them.

Rapid heartbeat and very low blood pressure.
Confusion, fainting, or trouble staying awake.
Cold, clammy, or pale skin.

Rapid treatment helps the mother stabilize and also protects the baby.

Premature Labor and Miscarriage

Trauma and stress from a crash can trigger contractions before 37 weeks or lead to pregnancy loss before 20 weeks. Call your OB-GYN immediately if you experience cramping, back pain that comes in waves, pressure, or a change in discharge.

Early treatment can slow or stop contractions, depending on your stage of pregnancy.

Fetal Injuries and Birth Defects

Direct fetal injuries are less common, but they can happen in severe trauma. Regular prenatal care and targeted follow-up after a crash help doctors monitor development and intervene promptly if concerns arise.

Keep every appointment and save all test results, ultrasounds, and notes you receive.

Legal Steps to Protect Your Rights in Texas

Medical care comes first. Then, taking a few smart legal steps can protect your claim in Texas and simplify the process down the road.

Report the Accident

Call the police from the scene, even if the damage looks small. An officer’s report creates an official record and helps if the other driver changes their story later. Notify your insurer promptly, and keep the report number on hand.

The checklist below highlights a few key Texas points that often arise after a crash while pregnant.

Topic	Texas note	Why it matters
Deadline to file a lawsuit	Generally, two years from the crash date, under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003.	Missing the deadline can prevent your claim from being heard in court.
Police report	If an officer investigates an injury or major damage, they file a report with TxDOT.	Helps prove what happened and who was involved.
Comparative fault	Texas follows a 51 percent bar rule. Recovery drops with your share of fault, and goes to zero if you are more than 50 percent at fault.	Accurate evidence protects your recovery.
PIP and MedPay	PIP is often offered unless you reject it in writing. MedPay is optional.	These can help cover medical bills and some lost income in the early stages.

If you have questions on how these rules fit your case, talk with a lawyer before you sign paperwork.

Gather and Preserve Evidence

Strong claims rest on strong proof. Save what you can now, while details are fresh.

Photos of vehicles, injuries, seat position, airbags, and child seats.
Scene details like skid marks, debris, traffic signs, and lighting.
All medical records, bills, and notes from ER visits and prenatal care.

Back up files to a cloud folder and keep a simple symptom journal, recording your symptoms daily.

Avoid Giving Statements Without Legal Counsel

Adjusters work to limit payouts. A recorded interview can invite tricky questions, and offhand comments can be used against you. You can say you prefer to speak after talking with your Houston personal injury attorney.

Keep your report to your own insurer brief and factual, then let your lawyer handle the rest.

Consult a Knowledgeable Attorney

Pregnancy introduces additional medical considerations that impact how a claim is evaluated. An attorney who handles these cases can value both your care and your baby’s needs, then protect you from low offers.

Quick guidance early on often prevents headaches later.

Potential Compensation for Damages

Money cannot undo a crash, but it can cover care and help your family stay steady. In Texas, you can pursue several categories of damages if another driver caused the collision.

Medical Expenses

You can seek reimbursement for reasonable and necessary care, including ambulance, ER, imaging, follow-up visits, and additional prenatal monitoring related to the crash.

Lost Wages

If you miss work for appointments, pain, or doctor-ordered rest, those lost wages are part of your claim. Keep pay stubs and HR notes that show the time away.

Future Medical Costs

Some injuries or pregnancy complications need ongoing treatment. Your claim can include projected care for you and your baby, provided it is supported by medical opinions.

Pain and Suffering and Emotional Distress

This covers the physical pain and the mental toll, including fear for the baby’s safety and sleep loss. A simple journal helps tell this part of your story.

Wrongful Death or Pregnancy Loss

If a crash causes a miscarriage or stillbirth, Texas law allows families to pursue damages tied to that loss. These are complicated cases, and private, caring guidance matters.

Contact the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec for Assistance

If you are pregnant and hurt in a crash, you do not have to sort this out alone. Our team is dedicated to helping mothers in Houston and surrounding communities access the medical care and compensation they deserve. Feel free to call us at 281-643-2000 or reach us through our Contact Us page for a free consultation. We welcome your questions and work diligently to achieve the best possible results for you and your family.