Mardi Gras is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, especially in the South, and unfortunately, those big celebrations can involve drunk driving accidents. In 2018, 196 people died in 5,708 crashes involving suspected alcohol or drug use in Alabama.
These deaths are unnecessary and can easily be prevented. In this blog, we’ll discuss your options if you or a loved one has been in an accident with someone who has had too much to drink during Mardi Gras.
A History of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, has its origins in the Middle Ages. It’s the day before Lent, the Christian season of reflection and penitence marked by fasting. So Mardi Gras was the final day for people to consume food that was forbidden during the 40 days of Lent — meat, eggs, butter, and of course, alcohol.
The origins of the American Mardi Gras date back to the 17th century, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Liberville and Sieur de Beinville landed near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. They held a small celebration and named their landing spot Pout du Mardi Gras.
In the decades following, the holiday was celebrated with street parties, masked balls and extravagant dinners. In 1856, the Mistick Krewe of Comus, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen, organized a procession with marching bands and floats, which is the Mardi Gras we know today.
Drunk Driving Cases Present Unique Challenges
In 2015, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission deemed Mardi Gras as the most dangerous holiday in Louisiana with 10 deaths and 1,005 injuries from 599 car crashes, more than half of which involved alcohol.
Drunk driving cases are unique because there often are multiple sources of negligence involved, meaning more than one person or party can be held accountable for any injuries. This includes the bars and restaurants that overserve customers during Mardi Gras.
The Andy Citrin team has years of experience in holding accountable parties responsible. For example, Lisa was involved in a head-on crash while approaching a stop sign. The other driver crossed the middle lane and struck her car, deploying air bags in both vehicles.
After learning the driver was facing felony drunk driving charges, the team decided punitive damages were appropriate for Lisa’s case. The team filed a case on her behalf, and Lisa was awarded an appropriate settlement to cover her medical bills and damages.
Drunk driving cases are unique because there often are multiple sources of negligence involved, meaning more than one person or party can be held accountable for any injuries. This includes the bars and restaurants that overserve customers during Mardi Gras.
Hurt in a Crash With a Drunk Driver? Here’s What to Do Next
If you are involved in a car crash, there are important steps you should take to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your case.
- Call 911 and make sure the operator knows everyone’s injuries and you think drunk driving played a role in the accident.
- Take photos of the car damage, road damage, or any injuries you may have sustained.
- Get contact information from witnesses. Their testimony could help you.
- Receive medical treatment even if the injuries are minor. Minor injuries could turn into unnecessary pain and suffering down the road.
- Write down all the details of the accident. Your memory of the incident will fade over time, so write it down while it’s fresh so you can preserve your version of the events.
- Keep a pain log of your injuries. This log should include when you can’t work, how you’re feeling, when you need help around the house, etc. This will help the insurance company and your lawyer understand what you have been through.
Additionally, contacting a personal injury lawyer should be on your list of to-dos. They will help you with all of the paperwork and fight for your right to fair compensation.
Tips for Having a Safe Mardi Gras
Attending a Mardi Gras celebration is a wonderful experience and should end with everyone arriving home safely. Plan before you leave to avoid being stranded with no reliable transportation. Here are some tips for ending the night on a good note.
- Assign someone as the designated driver. Make sure that person is committed to 100% sobriety throughout the night. If you have a friend or family member who is impaired and attempting to drive, take the keys away and help them get home safely.
- Alert local law enforcement if you see other impaired drivers — it could save their life and the lives of others.
- Order an Uber, Lyft or call a taxi. This will ensure no one in your group attempts to drive impaired. However, be prepared to wait for a ride at the end of the night. Once the celebration has ended, everyone will be looking for a ride home.
Hurt in a Crash With a Drunk Driver? Don’t Wait to Contact the Andy Citrin Team
If you or a loved one is suffering after a Mardi Gras crash with a drunk driver, don’t wait to get in touch with our team. We offer free, confidential consultations so you can understand your options and decide what to do next. To schedule time with one of our personal injury lawyers, contact us online or call our office at 251-888-8888.
We look forward to speaking with you!
References
Alabama Department of Transportation. (2019). Crash Facts 2018. https://www.caps.ua.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CrashFacts_2018.pdf
Drive Safely. (n.d.). One Crazy Carnival: Staying Safe During Mardi Gras. https://www.idrivesafely.com/defensive-driving/trending/one-crazy-carnival-staying-safe-during-mardi-gras
History.com. (2020, February 24). Mardi Gras. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
Andy is the owner and CEO of Citrin Law Firm, P.C. He founded the firm in 1995 with the goal of helping injured people put their lives back together. His passion for protecting injured people has only grown since he opened the doors of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, and he has a history of winning numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.