There are many things that women who are expecting a baby must think about. Eating the correct foods and getting enough sleep and exercise is only a small part of that equation. A recent study indicated pregnant women in Western Wisconsin, and beyond, need to be more mindful while driving as well. This is particularly true during the second trimester.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, involved 500,000 women who had babies over the course of five years beginning in 2006.Once identified, information was sought regarding their history of serious car accidents not only during the time in which they were pregnant, but in the year following the delivery of the baby and the three years before the woman became pregnant.
The research found that the first week of the second trimester is the most problematic when it comes to car accidents. The rate of crashes was actually 42 percent higher than the number recorded during the baseline period. Another thing that appeared to be a factor is where the women lived. The number was higher for pregnant woman who drove in urban areas as compared to those living in rural locations.
Factors that did not seem to influence the number of car accident pregnant women were in are also worth noting. The following were not found to have an impact on the rate:
- Month
- Day of week
- Time of day
- Gender of their baby
- Gestational age of baby when delivered
- Socioeconomic status
- Age of driver
While this information may be of interest to some the bottom line is anyone who has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident caused by another driver—pregnant or not—might be able to recover damages for any injuries suffered in the incident. This also pertains to those who lost a family member in a fatal motor vehicle accident. The best place for these individuals to start is with a personal injury lawyer.
Source: The Los Angeles Times, “Driving while pregnant: Car crash risk spikes 42% in second trimester,” Karen Kaplan, May 12, 2014