Party Bus Accident Attorney in New Orleans
Over 40,000 Injury Victims Represented. One Side of the Courtroom: Yours.
Party bus accidents are a distinct category of transportation injury claim. When a crash involves a vehicle carrying a large group to a wedding, a bachelorette party, or a night out, the result is often multiple injured passengers at once, a tangle of potentially liable parties, and an operator held to a higher legal standard than an ordinary driver. Our bus accident practice at Womac Law Firm already handles party bus claims alongside charter buses, city buses, shuttles, and other passenger vehicle types, and we bring that same depth of experience to bear here.
Unlike a two-car collision, a party bus crash can point in several legal directions at once: the driver, the charter company, a negligent vehicle maintainer, a parts manufacturer, or another motorist on the road. Sorting out who is responsible and building the case against each requires investigation that starts early, before evidence disappears.
If you or someone you know was injured on a party bus in New Orleans, call us at (504) 470-3935 for a free, confidential case evaluation. There’s no cost to find out where you stand.
Why Injured Passengers Choose Womac Law Firm
Edward J. Womac, Jr. founded this firm and has been admitted to the Louisiana Bar since 1983. Over more than 30 years of trial-level personal injury work, we’ve represented over 40,000 injury victims across Louisiana. That volume reflects not just longevity but a consistent focus on one side of the courtroom: the injured individual, never the insurance company.
We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. That means mock juries, rigorous courtroom preparation, and a file that’s ready when the defense tests it. Many cases settle before trial, but our preparation is what gives us leverage at the negotiating table. Clients across the region reach us from our offices in New Orleans, Gretna on the Westbank, and Mandeville.
Common Carrier Duty & Who Can Be Held Liable
Businesses that transport passengers for hire, including party bus and charter operators, are generally required to exercise the highest level of care for passenger safety. This standard exceeds what an ordinary motorist owes other drivers. The operator must protect passengers from foreseeable harm, though negligence still must be proven for a passenger to recover damages.
In practice, a party bus accident claim can reach several parties at once:
- The driver for negligent or distracted operation
- The charter or rental company for hiring, training, or supervision failures
- A maintenance provider if mechanical failure contributed to the crash
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer if a defective component was involved
- Another motorist whose negligence caused or contributed to the collision
Identifying every responsible party early can protect the full value of a claim. Missing even one can leave real compensation on the table.
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 504-470-3935 today!
-
What should I do if I get into an accident while riding my motorcycle?Treat the aftermath of a motorcycle accident much like you would treat any other motor vehicle accident and exchange information with the other driver, including insurance information, licenses, and contact information. You should also try to take as many pictures as you can of the scene, your injuries, and the physical damage sustained by your motorcycle and the other vehicle.
-
Will I still be able to recover damages if I was not wearing a helmet?Just because you failed to comply with state law does not mean you cannot recover any compensation at all. That said, it can still potentially harm your case if it is determined that your choice to not wear a helmet contributed to your injuries.
-
If I only ride my motorcycle recreationally or just on the weekends, do I still have to wear a helmet?In the state of Louisiana, all motorcyclists and their passengers are required to wear a helmet by law, no matter how often you ride. Even if you were in a state that did not require you to wear a helmet, wearing one can significantly reduce your chances of suffering a severe head injury, so make sure you and your passengers never ride without one.
Why Party Bus Crashes Cause Serious Injuries
Several conditions make party bus crashes more dangerous than a typical vehicle collision. Understanding these factors is central to building a claim that reflects the full extent of what happened.
Vehicle Modifications & Passenger Restraints
Many party buses are modified after manufacture, with original seating removed to create standing or dance space. Operators often continue booking based on the original listed capacity even though removing seats lowers the safe number of occupants. When a crash happens, standing or moving passengers absorb the full force with nothing to restrain them.
Seatbelts and airbags are standard in passenger vehicles but largely absent in party buses. Even a moderate side or rear impact can throw unrestrained passengers into walls, poles, or each other, producing head trauma, spinal injuries, and fractures that a properly restrained occupant might have avoided.
Driver Fatigue & Other Contributing Factors
Driver fatigue is a concern specific to this industry. Party bus companies do their heaviest business on weekends and during peak event seasons, and drivers frequently hold other full-time jobs during the week. Other common contributing factors include distracted or reckless driving, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and negligent operation by other motorists sharing the road.
Alcohol Service & Louisiana’s Anti-Dram-Shop Law
Alcohol is a standard feature of the party bus experience, and it often factors into how these crashes happen. Louisiana law limits how far liability extends to those who served it. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2800.1, the consumption of alcohol, not the serving of it, is treated as the proximate cause of resulting injuries. This generally shields vendors who serve alcohol to adults of legal drinking age from claims that arise after patrons leave their premises.
One important exception applies when alcohol is served to someone under the legal drinking age, which can open the door to an ordinary negligence claim against the server. For adult patrons, the statute typically redirects a party bus injury claim toward the driver’s conduct, the charter company’s negligence, and the actions of any other motorists involved, rather than toward whoever provided the alcohol.
