What If You Slipped and Fell While Pregnant?

Posted in Slip and Fall Accidents on May 29, 2025

Pregnant women feel a deep sense of protectiveness toward their unborn babies. During pregnancy, a woman carries additional weight in the front, shifting their center of balance forward. In addition, during the final trimester, it’s difficult for a pregnant woman to see the ground at her feet. Regardless of how carefully a pregnant woman walks, if a negligent property owner fails to take reasonable measures to address and repair slip-and-fall hazards, it could cause serious harm to a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Call a NYC slip and fall attorney at (212) 564-2800 to pursue justice for your injuries.

What Causes Slip-and-Fall Accidents?

When an unexpected alteration in the ground or floor surface affects the foot’s stability or grip, it can cause the foot to slip, followed by a painful twist and loss of balance. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments may overextend, and blunt force trauma occurs upon hitting the ground. These effects of slips and falls are even more dangerous for pregnant women. Common causes of slip-and-fall accidents include the following:

Wet floors from spills, pipe leaks, tracked-in rain or snow, and recent mopping
Loose debris on the floor, such as sand and sawdust
Cracked, uneven pavement, sidewalks, and walkways
Potholes
Icy walkways or steps
Cluttered aisles or floors
Unmarked floor level changes (step-ups or step-downs)
Broken or uneven stair risers
Loose gravel
Improper floor cleaning products or excessive buffing and polishing
Missing handrails on staircases

A slip-and-fall accident is even more frightening when it happens to a pregnant woman who worries not only about herself, but also her unborn infant. According to a clinical study of 3,997 mothers, 27% reported experiencing a slip-and-fall accident while pregnant. An alarming 21% of them required medical care and reduced levels of activity following the fall.

What Happens to an Unborn Baby During a Mother’s Slip-and-Fall Accident?

During the first trimester of pregnancy, it’s less common for a slip-and-fall to cause harm to an unborn baby due to the protective cushion of fluid surrounding the baby and the position of the uterus behind the pelvic bone. However, if a hard fall causes bleeding in the first trimester, the result could be a miscarriage. More commonly, falls during the last trimester can result in harm to the mother and child, such as the following:

Placental abruption (the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus, ceasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby)
Contractions and pre-term labor
Loss of amniotic fluid
Uterine rupture and hemorrhage (almost always fatal for mother and child)
Changes in fetal position
Blunt-force trauma injury to the unborn baby’s head

A slip-and-fall accident during pregnancy not only puts the unborn child at risk, but the mother may also suffer common slip-and-fall injuries such as fractures, head injury, back injury, neck injury, soft-tissue injuries, lacerations, contusions, or abrasions.

Property Owner Liability In Slip-and-Fall Injuries During Pregnancy

A property owner has a legal duty to take reasonable measures to prevent injuries to others on their property, including preventing slip-and-fall accidents. Unfortunately, many property owners fail to adequately maintain their properties or promptly address spills and other slip-and-fall hazards. A premises liability claim after a slip-and-fall accident during pregnancy can help recover compensation for the injury-related damages.

What Damages Are Available After a Pregnancy Slip-and-Fall Injury?

Depending on the seriousness of the harm to mother or child, damages in pregnancy slip-and-fall cases may include the following:

Past and future medical expenses for mother and/or child
Past and future income loss
Compensation for pain and suffering
Compensation for emotional damages like PTSD, anxiety, and depression

If a slip-and-fall accident during pregnancy results in the wrongful death of mother or child, the closest surviving family member may recover wrongful death compensation for their losses and a sense of justice through financial accountability.

If a you or a loved one fell while pregnant due to someone else’s negligence, contact our NYC premises liability lawyers today. Call (212) 564-2800 or contact us online.