New Orleans
Catching beads is part of the fun of a New Orleans parade, but Louisiana law actually makes most throw related injuries very difficult to sue over.
When something goes beyond an ordinary catch gone wrong, whether it’s a reckless float rider, a dangerous crowd condition, or a vehicle accident along the route, The Voorhies Law Firm knows exactly where that line falls.
A Mardi Gras accident claim covers injuries connected to parades and related festivities, which fall into two very different legal categories.
These include:
Because Louisiana law treats ordinary throw injuries so differently from other parade related harm, how your injury happened matters just as much as how badly you were hurt.
Louisiana has a law specific to parade injuries that doesn’t exist in most other states, and it changes the entire analysis for a huge share of Mardi Gras injury claims.
Under this statute, often nicknamed the ‘Coconut Law,’ anyone attending or participating in an organized parade between 6:00 a.m. and midnight assumes the risk of being struck by traditionally thrown items, including beads, cups, coconuts, and doubloons.
That means krewes and their members generally cannot be sued over an ordinary throw injury at all.
The only way around this immunity is proving the loss was caused by a deliberate and wanton act, or gross negligence, a meaningfully higher bar than ordinary carelessness.
Following a string of aggressive-throw incidents during this year’s Mardi Gras season, a state legislator introduced bills that would have created new civil and criminal liability for reckless throwing from a float.
That legislation was withdrawn by its own sponsor in March 2026 and did not become law, so the traditional immunity under R.S. 9:2796 remains the operative rule for now.
The immunity statute is specifically about traditional thrown items during the parade itself. It doesn’t shield a krewe or third party from claims involving inadequate crowd control, dangerous float construction, a vehicle collision involving a float or support vehicle, or a fall connected to the parade route’s condition, all of which are generally evaluated under Louisiana’s ordinary negligence and comparative fault framework instead.
For claims that fall outside the parade immunity, the general filing deadline is two years from the date of the incident, under Civil Code article 3493.1, for incidents on or after July 1, 2024.
STEP 1
Free consultation.
Tell us exactly what happened. We’ll give you an honest, no-cost read on whether the parade immunity applies to your situation.
STEP 2
Classification.
We determine whether your injury falls under the R.S. 9:2796 immunity or one of the categories it doesn’t cover.
STEP 3
Evidence collection.
For a gross negligence or non-immunity claim, we move quickly to gather video, photos, and witness accounts, since parade crowds and evidence disperse fast.
STEP 4
Medical documentation.
We make sure your treatment record clearly reflects what happened.
STEP 5
Damage calculation.
We account for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any lasting impact.
STEP 6
Demand and negotiation.
We pursue your claim against whichever party bears responsibility.
STEP 7
Filing suit, if needed.
We file before your deadline if a fair resolution isn’t reached.
STEP 8
Resolution.
Your case comes to a close, whether by settlement or verdict.
We evaluate Mardi Gras and parade related injury claims involving:
Behind every Mardi Gras injury case that gets past the immunity statute is a person who was hurt by something well beyond an ordinary catch gone wrong.
We know exactly what it takes to prove that.
We’ve recovered over $100 million for clients across all our practice areas at The Voorhies Law Firm.
Results may vary, and given how narrow the path to recovery is in parade-related cases, the specific facts of your incident matter enormously.
Most attorneys aren’t familiar with Louisiana’s parade immunity statute until they hit it head-on in a case, and by then it’s often too late to pivot strategy.
Richard P. Voorhies III and the team at The Voorhies Law Firm know how to evaluate a Mardi Gras injury correctly from the very first call.
We’re recognized by Super Lawyers and other legal organizations, but what matters here is honest, upfront guidance about whether you actually have a claim, plus direct access to your attorney if you do.
We handle Mardi Gras injuries on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to let the fear of your injury get in the way.
*Laissez les bons temps rouler!*
Almost certainly not, for an ordinary throw. Louisiana’s parade immunity statute (R.S. 9:2796) means attendees generally assume the risk of being struck by traditionally thrown items like beads, cups, and doubloons, unless the conduct was deliberate and wanton or grossly negligent.
Courts have described it as something close to an utter disregard for others’ safety, well beyond ordinary carelessness. An aggressive, targeted throw or reckless conduct that goes far beyond a traditional catch could potentially meet this bar, but it’s a genuinely high standard.
Not necessarily. The immunity statute is specifically about thrown items, not general float safety or construction. A fall connected to negligent float design or operation may be evaluated under ordinary negligence principles instead.
For claims not barred by the parade immunity statute, generally two years from the date of the incident, under Civil Code article 3493.1, for incidents on or after July 1, 2024.
Nothing upfront. Your initial consultation is free, and we handle qualifying cases on a contingency fee basis.
