Pregnancy brings many unexpected changes into your life. Unfortunately, some of these changes can be quite serious. A new study shows that car crash risk spikes in the second trimester of pregnancy. According to Canadian researchers, during the second trimester, a woman’s odds of getting into a significant car accident are 42% greater than in the three years prior to pregnancy.
A team from the University of Toronto led the study, which was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They identified more than 500,000 women between 2006 and 2011 that gave birth in Ontario and combed through the data to uncover some startling findings. Statistically, there was a 1 in 50 chance of a pregnant woman being involved in a motor vehicle crash during her pregnancy, but especially during the second trimester. There were 6,922 crashes during their test subjects’ pregnancies and for the first year after the baby was born. This was more than double the population-wide average during that time.
Specifically, during the first month of the second trimester, the women’s crash rate soared to 7.66 collisions per 1,000. Average non-pregnant women have a crash rate of just 2 per 1,000. Even more shocking is that this number transcended cultures and socioeconomic status. It didn’t matter how old the moms were or the time of day it was either. The only characteristic that mattered was that it was the second trimester of pregnancy.
Read More: Surviving a Colorado Car Accident
Surprisingly enough, the larger the women got in pregnancy - the lower their risk of getting into a car accident. By the last month of pregnancy, women were at their safest and their crash risk was just 2.74 per 1,000 women per year. In the year after birth, their accident rate dropped even more - to just 2.35 per 1,000.
It seems that pregnant women need to be extra careful when behind the wheel of a car - especially in the second trimester of their pregnancy. Now we can add this to the growing list of concerns pregnancy brings. Pregnant women have long been concerned about the risk of flying on airplanes, soaking in hot tubs, and even engaging in physical activities like weight training. Now, they need to be concerned about driving as well.
Contact Our Denver Car Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident during pregnancy, you need an attorney on your side immediately. Your baby’s health and future could have been jeopardized and it is important NOT to sign a settlement with the insurance company until you know all of the facts.
