Mardi Gras Drunk Driving Crash Accidents

Mardi Gras is a party, which means that drunk driving is a serious threat during Mardi Gras season. Impaired motorists may drive drunk on the way to or from Mardi Gras, which means virtually any road is at risk. If you or a loved one are involved in a drunk driving accident during Mardi Gras or at any time, you should hire an attorney to pursue fair compensation for you.

There is no excuse to drive while impaired, ever. Drunk drivers, insurance companies, and other liable parties must pay accident victims fairly for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and the many other damages that can result from collisions like yours.

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Mardi Gras and Drunk Driving Are, Unfortunately, Linked

Impaired driving is one of the darker sides of Louisiana’s reputation for letting loose. Mardi Gras culture, for many, goes hand in hand with drinking culture. This means that innocent people—whether or not they’re partaking in Mardi Gras—face an elevated risk of drunk driving accidents during Mardi Gras season.

Some of the risk factors associated with Mardi Gras include:

A celebratory atmosphere, which many view as a prime opportunity to drink
Easy access to alcohol along parade routes
An increased number of Mardi Gras-themed events that encourage drinking
The fact that most parade-goers (and others who are celebrating Mardi Gras outside of their homes) do not live a walkable distance from the parade, which means many of them drive to and from the event(s)
A police force that is stretched thin, which may embolden some to feel they won’t get pulled over while driving impaired

The infusion of drinking culture in Mardi Gras is no secret and is nothing new. For years, authorities have published public service announcements (PSAs) warning about the hazards of drinking and driving during Mardi Gras.

There Is Little Victims Can Do to Protect Themselves from Drunk Drivers

One of the most egregious features of drunk driving is victims’ inability to protect themselves from its dangers. Motorists and pedestrians can act as cautiously as possible, only for an impaired motorist to hit and injure them anyway.

Drunk drivers may not even have full control over themselves, as drinking can cause:

Impaired judgment
Impulsive behavior
Vision problems
Loss of concentration
Loss of motor function
Fatigue
Delayed reactions

Louisiana’s roads are dangerous enough when a motorist is alert and sober. An impaired motorist is a clear and present danger, and it’s no surprise that so many impaired drivers cause accidents during Mardi Gras.

As the victim who did nothing to deserve to be in an accident (and who had little ability to avoid the accident), you should hold the drunk driver fully accountable by hiring an attorney.

Related article: Tips for Staying Safe During Mardi Gras

The First Step to Take After a Mardi Gras Drunk Driving Accident: Hire an Attorney

Despite efforts by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and other authorities to discourage drunk driving in advance of Mardi Gras, alcohol-related accidents inevitably happen each year. You should not wait to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer if:

You were personally injured by a drunk driver
You lost a loved one because of a drunk driver
Your loved one is severely injured, and you are hiring a lawyer on their behalf

No matter how serious you consider your injuries, speak with an attorney as soon as possible. You should not delay in contacting a law firm serving your corner of Louisiana because:

Insurance companies expect you to file accident claims right away
Once you file an insurance claim, the insurance companies may immediately begin trying to deprive you of compensation—an attorney will protect you immediately
There are typically deadlines for filing lawsuits against drunk drivers
Your lawyer will want to gather evidence from your accident as soon as possible, and waiting can cause you to forfeit potentially beneficial evidence

Drunk driving accident lawyers offer free consultations. Because these meetings are free, you have no reason not to call.

Your Attorney Will Determine Who Must Cover the Cost of Your Accident

Drunk driving accidents on Mardi Gras can result from a series of failures. While the impaired motorist may be most responsible for your accident, they may not be the only liable party.

Your attorney will investigate why the collision occurred, and they may find that liable parties include:

The Drunk Motorist

Every motorist in Louisiana has a duty of care that requires them to:

Act reasonably at all times
Consider their own and others’ safety before and during their time behind the wheel
Refrain from acts that pose a danger to others, including drunk driving

There are many ways to avoid driving drunk, from Uber and Lyft to taxis, public transportation, and designated drivers. If a motorist was impaired at the time of your accident, they will have no excuse to avoid liability for their reckless actions.

Any Establishment That Overserved the Drunk Motorist

From Lundi Gras through Lent, there are countless establishments serving alcohol to Mardi Gras attendees. New Orleans and Louisiana culture tends to take a hands-off approach when it comes to alcohol consumption, placing most of the responsibility on the drinker to regulate their intake.

Even with the drinker expected to act responsibly, establishments that serve alcohol still have a duty not to over-serve customers. If someone attempts to purchase alcohol while visibly impaired, the establishment should turn them away.

The City of New Orleans or Another Negligent Municipality

In multiple instances, we have seen the tragic effects of mismanagement by the City of New Orleans. Your attorney may find that the city’s negligence contributed to your accident, too, as potential negligence may include:

Failing to control Mardi Gras crowds or traffic near your accident site
Failing to ensure adequate lighting in the area where your accident happened
Failing to crack prevent illicit alcohol sales
Allowing unsafe road conditions
Not fixing defective traffic signals

There are many instances in which a drunk driver’s impairment is solely to blame for an accident. However, some accidents result from multiple forms of negligence, including negligence that occurs at the municipal level.

Insurance Companies Representing Liable Parties

Drunk drivers generally still have coverage under their auto insurance provider. This means that insurers are likely to be involved in your case.

Depending on the details of the accident and applicable insurance policies, you may deserve compensation from your insurance provider and the drunk driver’s insurer.

How Attorneys Hold Drunk Drivers Accountable for Accidents During Mardi Gras

Each attorney practices the law in their own unique way, and each case presents different demands and challenges to the lawyer. There are several responsibilities that any competent lawyer must handle in drunk driving cases, though, and those duties include:

Establishing Fault for the Accident

The chaos of Mardi Gras will not obscure the facts of your accident. Your attorney may prove exactly who caused the collision by obtaining:

Your retelling of how the drunk driver hit your vehicle
Any video footage of the accident, which may be readily available in a city like New Orleans
Eyewitness accounts of the collision
Photographs of vehicle damage
A copy of the accident report

Your lawyer will secure such evidence right away, as any piece of evidence can become lost, damaged, or unusable if you wait too long to gather it.

Proving the Accident Victim’s Damages

Whether you or a loved one suffered an injury due to the drunk driver, your lawyer is going to prove the cost of the collision.

Personal injury attorneys often piece together medical records, the victim’s statements, expert testimony, and financial records to show the cost of the drunk driver’s negligence. Your case will have an economic and non-economic cost, and your lawyer’s documentation will prove it.

Protecting the Client (from Insurance Companies and Others)

Drunk driving accident attorneys protect their clients in several ways, which include:

Dealing with insurance companies on their client’s behalf
Helping the client make any case-related decisions, including but not limited to accepting or rejecting settlement offers
Assisting the client when they need to submit any formal documents, including statements about the accident, to insurance companies

Your lawyer’s advice will be their primary form of protection. They will instruct you about what to do and what not to do to position your case for success.

Determining the Exact Value of the Case

Because you will evaluate your lawyer’s performance based (at least in large part) on financial results, they will be intently focused on your damages. Specifically, they will determine the specific cost of damages you face because of the accident on Mardi Gras.

Some of the factors that can influence the cost of a drunk driving accident case include:

What injuries the victim suffers
How long the victim takes to recover (and whether any of their injuries is permanently disabling)
The severity of damage to your vehicle
The unique types of pain and suffering you endure because of the accident

The cost of accidents like yours is not always obvious. Allow an attorney to determine the total financial value of economic harm (like vehicle repairs) and non-economic harm like pain and suffering.

Negotiating on the Client’s Behalf

Your attorney will evaluate every option for securing the money you deserve. A settlement may be the best option, and insurers often end up paying the cost of drunk driving collisions.

Even if you sue the drunk driver or other negligent parties, those parties may agree to a settlement. Your attorney will fight for a fair deal, keep you updated throughout negotiations, and help you decide whether to accept or reject any offers you receive.

Leading Any Lawsuit or Trial The Case Requires

Drunk drivers can be personally liable when they harm others. Your attorney will:

Explain the potential merits of filing a lawsuit, specifically as they relate to you and your case
Explain any drawbacks of suing, which may include more time spent resolving your case
Advise you about whether they think suing is the right decision in your circumstances
File your lawsuit immediately if you decide to sue

If you decide to sue an impaired motorist or any other party with liability for your accident, this doesn’t necessarily mean your case will end up in a courtroom. Your attorney may still have time to negotiate a settlement, and they may convince liable parties to pay you before the trial starts.

Recoverable Damages for Victims of Drunk Drivers

The heavy drinking that occurs at Mardi Gras can produce drivers who are beyond dangerous. These motorists may be barely in control, making them life-threatening hazards behind the wheel.

Attorneys often see unusually serious damages from collisions involving drunk drivers, and those damages can include:

Medical Bills

Any medical bills you receive after the accident should be part of your New Orleans personal injury lawyer’s case. Your legal team will demand that the liable party—which can be a drunk driver, insurer, or other—cover these medical costs.

Pain and Suffering

Many accident survivors are not aware that they can seek compensation for non-economic damages, with pain and suffering being the most common type. Pain and suffering can include:

Any physical pain from your injuries
Any psychological or emotional anguish, distress, or pain related to the accident
Anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Diminished quality of life

Your lawyer can refer you to or directly arrange for a mental health professional to document and treat your pain and suffering.

Lost Earnings and More Professional Damages

Few accident victims go right back to work after the collision. Many need weeks, months, years, or even an indefinite amount of time to recover.

Your Mardi Gras drunk driving accident lawyer will determine exactly how much money you deserve for lost earnings, diminished earning capacity, and other accident-related professional damages.

Vehicle Repair Costs

The cost of repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle will be included in your lawyer’s case valuation, assuming it was your vehicle involved in the collision.

Hire Your Mardi Gras Drunk Driving Accident Attorney as Soon as Possible

Allow your lawyer to secure evidence and file your case before any related deadlines expire. Do not wait to contact drunk driving accident lawyers in your area.

Call a qualified personal injury lawyer when Mardi Gras goes wrong.

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