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Injury Attorneys Fighting on Behalf of Pregnant Women Injured in Slip and Fall Accidents in the Maryland, Virginia and Washing DC Areas
During pregnancy, your stomach continues to grow, throwing off your weight distribution. The distribution makes you feel clumsy, and you are prone to falls during your pregnancy. While you might be prone to falls, that does not excuse a property owner’s negligence. Property owners are required to have a safe premise for visitors, including pregnant ones.
If you fall during pregnancy, you not only risk serious injury to yourself, but your unborn child.
When that fall occurs because of someone’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation.
Complications and Trauma from Falls During Pregnancy
Falls during pregnancy are common. Women who fall during early pregnancy do not have as many complications, other than strains on their bodies. However, a pregnant woman in her second or third trimester could suffer severe trauma to her stomach, uterus, or the unborn child.
Abdominal Injuries after a Slip and Fall
Several injuries might occur to a woman if she falls while pregnant. These injuries include:
- Preterm Labor – A pregnant woman in her last trimester with a serious injury to her abdomen could encounter preterm labor. That means the baby could be born too early due to the incident. Preterm labor could result in fetal death, especially if the fetus is not at a viable point in the pregnancy.
- Internal Bleeding – Severe injuries to the mother’s stomach or uterus could result in internal organ damage and bleeding.
- Placental Abruption – Placental abruption is a serious condition that involves the placenta detaching from the uterine wall. If this occurs, fetal distress follows. A mother may experience preterm labor, but also excessive bleeding. Abruptions that are not addressed immediately could result in maternal death.
Common Causes of Pregnancy Slip and Fall Accidents
When a pregnant woman is in public, whether shopping at a grocery store or at a restaurant, she is already dealing with excess weight and discomfort. Therefore, she might assume she is at fault for her injury, just writing it off as pregnancy-related clumsiness.
Even if a woman is pregnant, most of the falls that occur in public places are the result of a property owner’s negligence.
Just some of the common causes of pregnancy slip and fall accidents include:
- Slippery Surfaces – From spilled products to mopped areas without warning signs, slippery surfaces are dangerous for anyone, including pregnant women.
- Torn Carpeting – Torn carpeting can create a tripping hazard, especially if a pregnant woman’s shoe were to become caught in strings or lifted pieces of the torn carpet.
- Cluttered Aisles – Store owners are required to keep their store aisles clear and free from clutter. Clutter can lead to trips and falls, and objects on the floor might not be easily seen, causing a person to trip.
- Weather Conditions – Regardless if it is raining or snowing, property owners must take precaution to ensure their property’s exterior is safe. If a store owner has the reasonable time to address ice buildup on the outside of their property but fails to do so, they could be held liable for any injuries they cause as a result.
Do Not Suffer From Your Injuries, Hold Negligent Owners Responsible
If you are pregnant and have experienced a devastating slip and fall accident, you can hold property owners accountable for the injuries they cause. Speak with a personal injury attorney from Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP at one of our three convenient locations. Alternatively, you can schedule your free consultation by completing our online contact form.