Fetal Deaths

Any motor vehicle accident can have a devastating effect on a victim’s life, however, there is perhaps nothing more horrific for a victim than the loss of an unborn child in a car crash. If you or a loved one have suffered through a fetal death as a result of a car accident, experienced Rhode Island Car Accident Attorney David Tapalian will help you get justice for the traumatic suffering that you endured. There is no amount of money that can compensate for the loss of an unborn baby; the driver responsible for the tragic accident needs to be held accountable for their reckless actions. Tapalian Law can hold the at-fault driver liable for their negligence and help you get awarded compensation for costs related to the accident including medical expenses and pain and suffering.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of fetal death, concluded a JAMA Network report. According to the national population-based study, 82% of all fetal deaths related to maternal trauma were caused by a motor vehicle accident. The potential for a fetal death occurring in a car crash is, unfortunately, more common than you might think. A baby growing inside the womb is extremely fragile and an injury can occur very easily. Even a low impact collision can have horrendous consequences to a delicate growing baby. A mother can do everything right during their pregnancy but cannot govern all circumstances, like the actions of a reckless driver. The researchers of the JAMA study strongly urge pregnant women to be especially careful while operating or riding in a motor vehicle. Rhode Island Car Accident Attorney David Tapalian understands the horrific impact that a traumatic accident can have on a family and can help you recover compensation for your suffering. Even the most careful and law-abiding expectant mother cannot control the negligent actions of other drivers on the road, and even the most cautious motorists and passengers can find themselves in a highly dangerous situation in a matter of seconds.

The loss of an unborn child in a car accident can occur for a number of reasons. Depending of the positioning of the baby and the mother’s seating in the car, even a minor impact accident can have disastrous complications. Car accidents can not only compromise or kill a fetus but can have serious implications on the mother carrying the fetus. Injuries to the mother include internal hemorrhaging and placental trauma. The placenta provides nourishment for the fetus through the mother’s umbilical cord, and in the event of a car accident, can instantly kill a fetus upon impact. Unfortunately, in his 20+ years of experience as a Rhode Island Car Accident Lawyer, David Tapalian has seen a number of mothers who were victims of accidents like these and understands it is never easy to get through the shock of a terrible event. At Tapalian Law, with empathy and compassion for you and your family, we will to help you recover compensation for your suffering and hold the responsible driver accountable for their actions.

Each state varies on whether or not wrongful death claims can be applied to fetuses. Rhode Island General Law § 11-23-5 is a fetal homicide law in place that states the willful killing of an unborn quick child by any injury to the mother of that child is deemed manslaughter. This law indicates that any fetus, regardless of their state of development, is classified as a “quick child” in the event of death, and therefore a defendant can be charged with manslaughter and all other charges that would apply should the fetus have been a conceived child. Unfortunately, the legality of this legislation can be confusing, and you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer in Rhode Island for better clarification.

Being pregnant and starting a family should be one of the happiest times in your life. For a reckless driver to take that away from you is a travesty, and one can only begin to imagine the agony that you are experiencing if you or a loved one suffers from a fetal death as a result of a car accident. Not only do fetal death accidents cause emotional trauma, but they can have lasting, detrimental effects on a mother’s health, and can even require drastic surgeries and treatments. At Tapalian Law, our RI personal injury professionals are mindful and sympathetic of your circumstances and want to get you justice for the tragic loss you have suffered. Hospital bills can be expensive and overwhelming for a victim and their family and RI Car Accident Lawyer David Tapalian can help you recover compensation for these bills and your suffering. Our team of legal experts is widely trusted by Rhode Island locals and our experience has helped countless victims of car accidents in Massachusetts and Rhode Island get the justice they deserve after being injured by a negligent driver. Centrally located in Providence, and with offices in nearby Warwick RI and Seekonk MA, we offer a free consultation for those in RI and MA at your convenience. If you have suffered a tragic fetal death accident, contact Tapalian Law at 401-552-5000 or contact us online to set up a free, private consultation today.