Tips to Avoid Mardi Gras Accidents in New Orleans

Everyone in our beloved city of New Orleans is aware when Mardi Gras arrives. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a time of celebration and excess before Lent. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”, which we eat fatter, richer foods before the fasting of Lenten season. Unfortunately, with most things involving alcohol and driving, it can be dangerous.

New Orleans, Louisiana’s Worst Time for Car Accidents

Data compiled by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission in 2010 recorded 509 car accidents and car crashes during the Friday before Mardi Gras till Fat Tuesday. There were 11 car accident related deaths during that year. According to car accident data compiled for 2017 by the LHSC, Mardi Gras in Louisiana is the deadliest time of the year with 10 car accident related deaths and over 600 car crashes involving bodily injury. Alcohol was involved in over 150 of the car crash injuries. 

Tips to Avoid A Mardi Gras Accident

• The number one rule of Mardi Gras and almost any holiday in New Orleans, is don’t drink and drive. In Louisiana, drivers 21 years old and over who have a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of at least 0.08% would legally be considered too impaired to drive. In the past few years, there are many services other than taxis that can drive you home at a very low cost, such as Uber. DO NOT risk having a car or pedestrian accident that can completely alter the course of your life.
• Don’t touch or crowd police animals, such as horses or dogs. Police horses are trained to be around large crowds, but hitting or touching the horse can still be dangerous. Hitting the horse can also give the officer reason for an arrest.
• When crossing roads or crowd control barricades, be aware of your surroundings and look both ways before crossing. Pedestrian accidents are common Mardi Gras accidents that can occur if you are not careful. To use an old military term, always check your six.
• Do not bring glass containers. Glass containers can be easily broken, especially if a person is inebriated. Broken glass can be a danger to you and other passersby and can cause bodily injury to legs, feet, and even buttocks if a person sits down, which can be common during Mardi Gras. 
• Do not throw Mardi Gras beads back at floats. You may ask “why are beads thrown at Mardi Gras” in the first place? It is believed that Mardi Gras parades started around the 1830’s, with rich aristocrats throwing sugared almonds into the crowds that came to watch the Mardi Gras parades. That tradition has evolved into the Mardi Gras bead. Throwing the beads back at float riders is extremely rude, and can even be dangerous. Since floats are so high up, a fast, hard bead being thrown in someone’s face can cause them to lose their balance and fall off the float, resulting in bodily injury and sometimes even death. If someone sees you, you could be sued or taken to court by a personal injury lawyer.
• Travel with a friend, and preferablly a large group. Mardi Gras is also a dangerous time to be alone, especially in New Orleans.

If you’ve been to a parade and had a Mardi Gras car accident, especially if you are from out of town, you need a trusted New Orleans personal injury attorney to help you. Contact us now to see how we can get justice for you for your Mardi Gras accident.

Mardi Gras 2018 Dates in New Orleans