Tourist Injuries in New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the most visited cities in the country. It is a hub for tourist activities, known for its food, music, historic sights, and fun festivals such as Mardi Gras, as well as iconic experiences like live jazz on Frenchmen Street. Sadly, between the celebrations among the crowds in the streets of the French Quarter and the city’s vibrant nightlife, accidents happen more often than visitors expect.

If you or a loved one were hurt while visiting New Orleans, you have the same right to pursue compensation after an injury as any Louisiana resident. Our team of New Orleans tourist injury lawyers at Douglas & London understands the unique pressures you’re facing, and we will fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation.

Common Tourist Accidents in New Orleans

These are the types of accidents we most commonly see involving tourists:

Slip and Fall Accidents: New Orleans features historic architecture, including old buildings, which increases the risk of worn steps, faulty floorboards, and deteriorating handrails. The uneven sidewalks in the French Quarter also pose a serious hazard during frequent New Orleans rain and humidity. Wet floors in hotels, short-term rentals, and outdoor restaurants and shops on Bourbon Street can also be sites of preventable falls that cause serious injuries.
Car and Rideshare Accidents: Vehicle accidents are a major cause of injuries for tourists in New Orleans. Most tourists rent cars or rely on rideshare services for transportation and end up involved in collisions, particularly in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic and congested streets.
Pedestrian Accidents: New Orleans is a walkable city, and taking a stroll to explore its scenery and neighborhoods is part of the experience, but pedestrians face real dangers on its streets, particularly in high-traffic areas and during busy festival seasons.
Streetcar and Public Transit Accidents: If you are involved in an accident on the New Orleans historic streetcar line and sustain injuries due to the collision or while boarding or exiting, you are eligible for compensation even as a tourist. Any injuries sustained on public transit often give rise to claims against the city, and you need an attorney who understands the specific legal procedures and deadlines in Louisiana.
Hotel and Lodging Accidents: Hotels and other lodging providers owe guests a duty of safety and care. Issues such as poorly lit stairwells, inadequate security, broken elevators, and unsafe pool areas can cause harm or accidents to the guests. If such happens, the hotel will be held liable for its inability to meet basic safety standards.
Festival and Event Injuries: Events such as Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and others draw large crowds into compact spaces and venues. This gives rise to risk factors such as stampedes, slip-and-fall accidents due to spilled food and drinks, and overcrowding at emergency exits. Organizers must provide adequate security and staff to prevent this, or they will be held liable for any injuries that occur.

Tourist injuries that occur as a result of these accidents range from broken bones and fractures, head and brain trauma, neck and back injuries, cuts and lacerations, and emotional trauma after a frightening event. Most of these injuries require not just medical treatment but ongoing care and physical therapy.

High-Risk Areas for Tourist Injuries in New Orleans

Certain areas in New Orleans carry a higher risk of injury simply due to larger crowds and aging infrastructure. If you were hurt in any of the following areas, there’s a good chance negligence played a role.

French Quarter: Severely overcrowded on weekend nights and during festivals. Its poorly maintained buildings and uneven pavements around surrounding blocks often cause slip-and-fall accidents.
Bourbon Street: A high-risk area with lots of wet surfaces due to the rain and spilled drinks, limited sidewalk space, and heavy pedestrian traffic at all hours.
Garden District: Known for its historic homes and highly popular for walking tours and sightseeing, its tree-lined streets and sidewalks with raised roots are common sites for pedestrian trips and vehicle accidents.
Warehouse District and CBD: A hot spot for art and fine restaurants. Its high traffic and construction activities make it a risky area for rideshare, cyclists, and even pedestrians due to regular congestion.
Hotels and Riverfront Areas: Wet surfaces, large crowds, and heavy vehicle traffic make this area a high-risk area for tourists due to frequent accidents.

What to Do if You Are Injured While Visiting New Orleans

After an accident, these are the steps to take to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you feel okay, visit a medical facility such as Ochsner Medical Centre, University Medical Center, or East Jefferson Hospital to get evaluated by a medical professional. This helps them check for any internal injuries and provides a medical record that will serve as evidence for your claim.
Document the scene. Take photos and videos of the accident scene, any visible injuries, and any eyewitness information that will be beneficial.
Report the accident. Irrespective of where the incident happened, contact the police and obtain a police report.
Be careful what you say to insurance companies. If an insurance adjuster contacts you before you have legal representation, decline to speak with them. Make sure you contact your lawyer first before saying anything.
Contact a New Orleans tourist injury lawyer as soon as possible. Your New Orleans tourist injury lawyer helps you identify liable parties and handle the legal process quickly within the statute of limitations on your behalf, even after you return home.

If you are a tourist involved in an accident, contact a New Orleans tourist injury lawyer immediately, because Louisiana has one of the shortest personal injury statutes of limitations in the country, just one year from the date of the accident. If you don’t file within that timeline, you lose your right to file a claim, regardless of the strength of your case.

Determining Liability and Your Legal Rights as a Tourist in Louisiana

As a tourist, you may feel you have fewer rights to pursue a claim for injuries, but that’s not true, as Louisiana law protects injured visitors the same as it protects residents.

New Orleans follows the Louisiana Civil Code 2323 and its comparative fault system, which says that your compensation is determined by how much you are at fault in the accident. For example, if a court finds you 20% at fault, you would still be entitled to 80% of your total damages. An experienced attorney can work to minimize any fault assigned to you and maximize the value of your claim.

If your lawyer proves liability, depending on where and how the accident happened, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses (present and future), lost wages or missed vacation days, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and any lasting impact on your quality of life, such as permanent disability.

Why Injured Tourists Choose Douglas & London

For nearly two decades, Douglas & London have been fighting for injured victims in New Orleans and across Louisiana. Although headquartered in New York, Douglas & London represent clients from all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, so no matter where you’re from, we’ve got you covered.

Our attorneys understand the Louisiana legal system inside out, from its unique comparative fault rules and statutes of limitations to all the challenges that come with proving liability as a visitor. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and ensure you get the compensation you rightfully deserve in New Orleans.