Accident Reports

If your vessel is involved in a boating accident, you are legally required to file a report with the state boating authority (see Chapter 8) if any of the following occurred:

• Personal injury beyond immediate first-aid.
• Death.
• Disappearance of any person under circumstances that indicate death or injury.
• Damage to the vessel(s) and/or personal property more than the dollar amount specified for the state where the accident occurred.
• Complete loss of the boat.

Unfortunately, U.S. Coast Guard reports indicate that only a small fraction of non-fatal boating accidents are reported. Most accidents are not reported because of ignorance of the law. To make it easier for you to report an accident, follow the directions below.

Before leaving the scene of the accident, write down the following information:

• Name of the operator of the vessel.
• Complete address of the operator of the vessel.
• Identification number of the vessel.

Include the weather and visibility conditions in your report. Remember, most boating accidents occur during calm, clear weather with light winds. In addition to giving this information to the proper authorities, you also need to give the information to the other vessel operator, any person who was injured, and the owner of any property that was damaged.

If you are involved in a boating accident in which any of the above occurred, you may not leave the scene until you have given all possible aid to the persons involved.