Mardi Gras Safety Tips in Louisiana

Whether you’ve lived in Louisiana all your life, just a few years, or even if you’re just visiting, the Mardi Gras season can be an unforgettable and fun experience for your whole family. However, the crowds, traffic, and commotion can be risky if you’re unprepared to deal with them.

Mardi Gras is one of the reasons that makes Louisiana a fun place to live, but it’s important to be smart and stay safe while reveling in the season. Follow these Mardi Gras safety tips to ensure the entire season stays fun for all!

Getting to the Parade

Especially in New Orleans, parades can start as early as 8 AM—and crowds form along the parade route much sooner than that! Ask your hotel concierge about the parade schedule the weekend you’re in town, or download an app like the Mardi Gras Parade Tracker for routes, updates, and more.

If you can, walk or take public transit to your chosen spot on the route; the crowds and traffic will make it hard to maneuver on the streets. Leave expensive items like designer purses or fancy cameras at home, and wear comfortable shoes and clothing. For a better view from a couple rows back, bring a ladder. Locals set up decorated ladders in good spots, so try to find them!

Having a Good Time During the Parade

The number one thing to remember about Mardi Gras, especially on multiple-parade days, is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Each parade takes a few hours, and usually people stick around between parades, eating, drinking, and more.

If you decide to imbibe, try not to do so to excess, and only drink beverages you know are safe. Make sure to Mardi Gras with at least a trusted friend, or preferably in a group, and stick together. Have a place to meet up if you do get separated in the crowd.

One of the best parts of Mardi Gras is revelling with strangers, but be wary: don’t agree to go with anyone away from a populated area. Always stay in sight of your friends and other people in case of danger.

Getting Home Safely

At the end of the night, you’ll want to head home. If you can afford it, take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft; if not, New Orleans’ public transit is surprisingly good late at night. If your hotel is quite close, you can walk, but make sure to stay safe while you do so. Before you leave, it’s a good idea to ask your concierge what the best way to get back might be.

When Mardi Gras Goes Wrong

Most of the time, everything goes off without a hitch. Everyone has fun, then goes home with pounds more plastic beads and trinkets than they had at the beginning of the day. However, sometimes the perfect storm of drunken revelers, parade traffic, and crowd dynamics forms a Mardi Gras accident tragedy.

One such instance was the Mardi Gras 2017 accident, when a truck driver with a .232 blood-alcohol level (BAC) crashed into a parade crowd, injuring 28 people. Luckily, no one was killed at that time, but with the amount of alcohol and even illicit drugs consumed during the Mardi Gras season at parades, an accident is always possible. In 2020, an accident occurred and two people were tragically struck and killed when they ran between tandem floats, so you must be careful!

Find a Personal Injury Attorney to Help

If you are involved in an accident at a parade in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, you need a lawyer to represent your interests in the aftermath. The injury attorneys at Murphy Law Firm have handled cases and represented people in Louisiana for nearly 30 years, so we have the experience you need when trying to get your just compensation after being injured at Mardi Gras. We’re dedicated to fighting for you, no matter how long it takes. Plus, we won’t get paid unless you do.

If you’ve been involved in a Mardi Gras accident, don’t hesitate and don’t let the insurance companies swindle you. You deserve compensation for your injuries, medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering! No matter if you’ve been in a car accident, truck accident, or any other type of accident during Mardi Gras, call Murphy Law Firm today for a FREE consultation with our team of expert personal injury attorneys, or schedule your free consultation online!