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Tips to Avoid Mardi Gras Accidents in New Orleans

new-orleans-mardi-gras-accident

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 townyou 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 

Saturday, January 6, 2018
Phunny Phorty Phellows7:00 p.m.UptownStreetcar Ride
Joan of Arc7:00 p.m.French QuarterWalking Parade
Société Du Champs Elysée7:30 p.m.French QuarterStreetcar Ride
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Bilge12:00 p.m.Slidell
Poseidon6:00 p.m.Slidell
Mona Lisa & Moon Pie7:00 p.m.Slidell
Krewe du Vieux6:30 p.m.French QuarterMature Themed
Krewe DelusionFollowsFrench QuarterWalking Parade
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Little RascalsNoonMetairie
Slidellians1:00 p.m.Slidell
Perseus2:00 p.m.Slidell
Friday, February 2, 2018
Krewe of Cork3:00 p.m.French QuarterWalking Parade
Oshun6:00 p.m.Uptown
Cleopatra6:30 p.m.Uptown
Eve7:00 p.m.Mandeville
Excalibur7:00 p.m.Metairie
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Krewe of Paws10:00 a.m.Slidell
Adonis11:45 a.m.Westbank
Tchefuncte1:00 p.m.Madisonville
Nemesis1:00 p.m.St. Bernard
Pontchartrain1:00 p.m.Uptown
Choctaw2:00 p.m.Uptown
Freret3:00 p.m.Uptown
Sparta6:00 p.m.Uptown
Pygmallion6:15 p.m.Uptown
Caesar6:00 p.m.Metairie
‘tit Rex5:00 p.m.MarignyWalking Parade
Olympia6:00 p.m.Covington
Caesar6:00 p.m.Metairie
Chewbacchus7:00 p.m.MarignyWalking Parade
Titans6:30 p.m.Slidell
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Femme Fatale11:00 a.m.Uptown
CarrolltonNoonUptown
King Arthur and MerlinFollowsUptown
AllaFollowsUptown
Claude1:00 p.m.Slidell
Dionysus2:00 p.m.Slidell
Barkus2:00 p.m.French QuarterDog Walking Parade
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Druids6:30 p.m.Uptown
Nyx7:00 p.m.Uptown
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Knights of Babylon5:30 p.m.Uptown
Chaos6:15 p.m.Uptown
Muses6:30 p.m.Uptown
Friday, February 9, 2018
Krewe of Bosom Buddies11:30 a.m.French Quarter
Hermes6:00 p.m. Uptown
Le Krewe D’etat6:30 p.m.Uptown
Selene6:30 p.m.Slidell
Orpheus7:00 p.m.Mandeville
Morpheus7:00 p.m.Uptown
Centurions7:00 p.m.Metairie
Saturday, February 10, 2018
NOMTOC10:45 a.m.Westbank
Iris11:00 a.m.Uptown
TucksNoonUptown
Endymion4:15 p.m.Mid-CitySuperkrewe
Isis6:30 p.m.Metairie
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Okeanos11:00 a.m.Uptown
Mid-City11:45 a.m.Uptown
ThothNoonUptown
Napoleon5:00 p.m.Metairie
Bacchus5:15 p.m.UptownSuperkrewe
Athena5:30 p.m.Metairie
Monday, February 12, 2018
Proteus5:15 p.m.Uptown
Orpheus6:00 p.m.UptownSuperkrewe
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Zulu8:00 a.m.UptownFeatures Royalty
Rex10:00 a.m.UptownFeatures Royalty
Elks OrleaniansFollowsUptownTruck Parade
Crescent CityFollowsUptownTruck Parade
Argus10:00 a.m.Metairie
Krewe of Elks JeffersonFollowsMetairieTruck Parade
Krewe of JeffersonFollowsMetairieTruck Parade
Lyra10:00 a.m.Covington
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