You may have just had a boating accident with your boat, and maybe nobody noticed. Only your boat sustained damage, so you want to just load up and go home and fix your boat. If you do that, you may be committing a crime in your state.
If you have a boating accident in any state, you will most likely have to report it to local, state, and US Coast Guard authorities. However, in most states, you will be required to fill out and file a report to one local authority, who in-turn files reports with the other required authorities.
In some states a boat operator will be required to report their boating accident, no matter the circumstances. In other states they adopt Federal law for reporting boating accidents, which is set and controlled by the United States Coast Guard. Read on to find out what your choice boating states require in case of an accident.
Federal Boat Accident Reporting Requirements
The Federal Accident Reporting Requirements are the loosest requirements among all the states. In other words, you’ll find that most state accident reporting requirements are more stringent. This means you need to be aware of the accident reporting law of the state in which you are boating.
Here is the USCG accident reporting requirements right from the source:
Federal law requires the operator or owner of a recreational vessel to file a boating accident report with the State reporting authority if the recreational vessel is involved in an accident that results in any of the following:
- A person dies
- A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid
- A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury
- Damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 (lower amounts in some states and territories).
- The boat is destroyed.
Report Timelines:
Within 48 hours if a person:
- dies within 24 hours
- is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid
- or disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury.
Within 10 days of the occurrence or death if earlier reporting is not required.
If you would like to see what is required to fill out a USCG accident report, you can click here and go to their website forms page.
Who Do You Contact To Report A Boating Accident
In most cases your first contact will be 911 on your cell phone if their are people hurt or in danger from a boating accident.
Depending on where you are boating, you may need to contact your state DNR (Department of Natural Resources), the local police marine department, or the county sheriff department. However you reach out for help or reporting, they will either send a water patrol unit to you, or relay your position and information to the proper authority.
No matter what, DO NOT LEAVE THE SCENE OF A BOATING ACCIDENT you are involved in.
You are required by law to provide assistance to anyone hurt or in danger that is involved in a boating accident. You are required to provide this help as long as you do not put yourself, your passengers, or your watercraft in danger to do so.
State By State Boat Accident Reporting Requirements
Each state’s boating accident reporting requirements are generally more stringent than the USCG (United States Coast Guard). It seems as though the main deciding factor between the 50 state’s laws, is based on the amount of damage caused by the boat(s) operator(‘s).
While there are a host of other scenarios that would cause a boat operator who had an accident to have to report it to the authorities, the determining factor based on the minimum monetary damage value ranges from $0 to $2,000.
I have created the most thorough “state by state” table showing each state’s mandatory accident reporting laws available. It shows the law for each state and the contact information to verify, get forms, and report.
Use this guide as a GUIDE, and as a way to access the information right from the authority’s source. There will never be a better source for the individual states information, than going direct to them. However, some states have really bad websites and it is a major chore to find information on them. That is why I created this 50 state guide.
| STATE | ACCIDENT REPORTING REQUIREMENT (per state's website) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Any operator of a boat involved in an accident causing: - loss of life - injury, or - damage in excess of $50.00, must, within 10 days, submit an accident report to the Marine Patrol Division, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on forms provided by Marine Patrol Officers, Marine Patrol Division or County Sheriff's Offices. ALABAMA MARINE PATROL (334) 517-2950 |
| Alaska | The operator (owner, if the operator is unable to) of a boat used for non-commercial purposes or registered by the State Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles, is required to submit a report in writing whenever an accident results in: - loss of life - disappearance from a vessel - an injury which requires medical treatment beyond first aid - property damage in excess of $500 - or complete loss of the vessel. State of Alaska, Office of Boating Safety 550 West 7th Avenue Suite 1380 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 269-8700 |
| Arizona | The operator or owner of every watercraft involved in a collision, accident or other casualty involving property damage exceeding $500 shall submit a written report directly to the Arizona Game and Fish Department within five days. Accidents involving death or serious injury shall be submitted within 48 hours. Arizona Game and Fish Department 5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, Arizona 85086-5000 Phone: (602) 942-3000 |
| Arkansas | The operator or owner of a vessel involved in an accident must notify immediately the Arkansas Game & Fish commission or local Sheriff's Department if a person dies or disappears, or person is injured or... • Damage to the vessel or other property is $2,000 or more. State law requires all reportable accidents to be investigated. Call 1-800-482-9262. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission 2 Natural Resources Dr. Little Rock, AR 72205 Phone: (800) 364-4263 |
| California | According to state law, a boat owner/operator must report their boat accident to California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) if the accident results in: - death - disappearance - injury to a person requiring medical attention beyond first aid - damage to a vessel or other property exceeding $500 - complete loss of a vessel, regardless of value. Boat accidents must be reported within specific time periods. Reports must be submitted to DBW within 48 hours of an accident that involves: - Death occurring within 24 hours of the accident if; - Disappearance of a person, or - Injury beyond first aid. Reports must be submitted to DBW within 10 days of an accident that involves: - A person who dies more than 24 hours after an accident occurs - Property damage exceeding $500, or - There is a complete loss of a vessel. California Division of Boating and Waterways Attn: Boating Accident Unit PO Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 |
| Colorado | File an accident report using a Boating Accident Report Form within five days if the incident results in: - Loss of life or disappearance from a vessel - An injury that required medical treatment beyond first aid - Property damage in excess of $2,000 -Complete loss of vessel. Submit the report to: Colorado Parks and Wildlife 13787 S. Hwy. 85 Littleton, CO 80125 |
| Connecticut | The operator of a vessel involved in a boating accident which results in any of the circumstances noted below shall immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency and, within 48 hours after the accident, report the matter in writing on a form provided by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Boating Division: - The death of any person from whatever cause. - The disappearance of any person from on board. - The injury of any person sufficient to require medical attention beyond simple first aid. - Any accident in which the total damages to all property affected is in excess of $500 must be reported by the operator within 5 days after the accident on forms provided by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Boating Division. The operator of the boat must make out the report. If for any reason the operator cannot make out the report, the owner or survivor of the accident should initiate the report. (Operators are required to report, even if a law enforcement officer has also filed a report.) For forms or answers to questions, please contact the Boating Division at 860-434-8638 Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Boating Division P.O. Box 280 (333 Ferry Road) Old Lyme, CT 06371-0280 Phone: 860-434-8638 |
| Delaware | The operator Of a vessel shall submit a casualty or accident report to the reporting authority when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment: - A person dies; - A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid; - Damage to the vessel and Other property totals more than S500_00; or - A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury. A report required by this section shall be made: - Immediately if a person dies within 24 hours Of the occurrence; - Immediately if a person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid, or disappears from a vessel. AND within 5 days Of the occurrence or death if an earlier report is not required. * The accident or casualty report completed by a Fish and Wildlife Agent may be substituted to meet the requirements Of this section. Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 89 Kings Hwy SW Dover, DE 19901 (302) 739-9913 |
| Florida | The operator of a vessel involved in a boating accident where there is: - personal injury beyond immediate first-aid, - death, - disappearance of any person under circumstances which indicate death or injury, or - if there is damage to the vessel(s) and/or personal property of at least $2,000, MUST, by the quickest means possible, give notice to one of the following: - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, - The sheriff of the county in which the accident occurred, OR - The police chief of the municipality in which the accident occurred, if applicable. Call with questions to 850-488-5600 |
| Georgia | The Georgia DNR website is not well put together. It is very difficult to find information. Their site rarely shows up for Georgia specific info search. The most reliable information I found for Georgia is on Boat-Ed.com and this is what they say: Vessel operators involved in an accident must report it by the quickest means possible if the accident results in: Death or the disappearance of a person from a vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury or… Injury requiring first aid or medical attention or… Property damage exceeding $2,000 to all vessels, docks, etc. involved in the accident. In the case of a reportable accident, the operator or owner must file an accident report form supplied by the Georgia DNR. Most reports of accidents must be made within 5 days of the accident. However, you must report an accident within 48 hours if a person: Dies within 24 hours as a result of the accident or… Is disabled for more than 24 hours or… Requires medical treatment for injuries or… Disappears from a vessel. |
| Hawaii | A boating accident report has to be filed with the State if the vessel is used for recreational purposes in the following instances: 1. Loss of life or the disappearance of any person; 2. injury, causing any person to require medical treatment beyond first aid; 3. actual damage to any vessel or to any other property is in excess of $200. Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, 4 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 (808) 587-1972 |
| Idaho | The operator of any vessel involved in a collision, accident or other casualty resulting in: - death, - injury or property damage in excess of $500 must file a Boating Accident Report. Reports in cases of: - death, - incapacitating injury or - disappearance must be submitted within 48 hours. Reports in other cases must be submitted within 10 days. All reports shall be submitted to the sheriff of the county in which the accident occurred, and a copy shall be readily transmitted by the sheriff’s department to the State Boating Enforcement Coordinator, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION PO BOX 83720 BOISE, ID 83720-0065 208-334-4199 |
| Illinois | Boat operators are required to submit a written report following accidents involving - injury to a person greater than first aid, - loss of life or - property damage in excess of $2,000. Provided by: DNR General Information: 217-782-6431 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement Attention: Boat Accident One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217-782-6302 |
| Indiana | Indiana is another very difficult state to find out what needs to be done in case of a boating accident. Operators must report the accident to the office of the county sheriff, the nearest state police post, or the nearest conservation office as quickly as possible. The operator must file an accident report form supplied by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources within 24 hours of the accident if: · A person dies or disappears, or · A person is injured or requires medical treatment, or · Damage to the boat and other property exceeds $750. If the operator of a boat is physically incapable of performing this duty, each other occupant of the boat shall perform the duty or see that the duty is performed. |
| Iowa | The operator of a vessel involved in an occurrence is required to file a report in writing whenever an occurrence results in: - loss of life, - loss of consciousness, - medical treatment or disability in excess of 24 hours or - property damage in excess of $2000. The report must be submitted to the: Iowa DNR Law Enforcement Bureau 502 E 9th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-0034 and shall include a full description of the collision, occurrence or other casualty. If you have any questions, call the DNR Des Moines Office at 515-725-8200 |
| Kansas | Her are the reporting requirements right off the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website: "You must notify Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism immediately. Contact the Pratt Office at 620-672-5911 or your local authorities". I believe there are allowable timelines, but they are not presented by the state anywhere to be found. It may be best to call the above number and get their latest version of the accident reporting law, given the fact that they are quite blunt in their description. |
| Kentucky | A formal, written report must be filed with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife when there is: • Damage over $500 by or to the vessel or its equipment; • Injury (requiring medical help beyond first aid) or loss of life; and/or • Disappearance of any person on board a vessel. Reports must be filed within the following time frames from the boating accident: • 48 hours if there is loss of life within 24 hours of the accident; • 48 hours if a person involved is injured and cannot perform usual activities; • 48 hours if a person disappears; • 10 days if an earlier report is not required but becomes necessary; and/or • 10 days if the boat or property damage is in excess of $500 or total boat loss. Law Enforcement Division — Boating Accident The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources #1 Sportsman Lane Frankfort, Ky. 40601 To report an accident that has just occurred, please contact the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources Dispatch office at (800)25-ALERT. |
| Louisiana | If the incident results in: - death or injury to a person, - the disappearance of a person from a vessel, - property damage in excess of $500, or - complete loss of a vessel, you must immediately notify LDWF's Law Enforcement Division, the nearest law enforcement agency, or state police. For any boat crash, collision, or other casualty, you must submit an Incident Report Form to LDWF within 5 days of the incident. Submit the form to: LDWF Boating Safety and Waterway Enforcement PO Box 98000 Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 |
| Maine | Watercraft operators involved in an accident must report the accident to the nearest law enforcement officer by the quickest possible means if the accident has caused: • Injury to or death of any person or... • Disapparance of any person under circumstances that indicate the possibility of death or injury. Accidents also must be reported in writing to the commissioner of the MDIFW, using a watercraft accident report form. Report forms are available online at www.maine.gov/ifw The operator must report the accident in writing within 24 hours if a person dies, disappears under circumstances that indicate the possibility of death or injury, loses of consciousness, receives medical treatment, or is disabled for more than 24 hours. The operator must report the accident in writing within 72 hours if damage to the watercraft or other property exceeds $2,000. |
| Maryland | An accident report must be made to the department within 48 hours if: 1. The accident causes the death or disappearance of a person. 2. As a result of the accident, a person receives medical treatment beyond first aid. All other boating accidents must be reported to the department within 10 days if damage is greater than $2,000 or there is a loss of vessel. Running aground or hitting a fixed or floating object is considered a boating accident. The operator of the vessel or vessels involved must report the accident to the Natural Resources Police. 800-628-9944 Ch. 16 (156.800 MHz) Nearest police or Coast Guard boat will assist you. From cell phone 410-260-8888 |
| Massachusetts | The operator of a vessel is required to submit a written report to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Boating and Recreational Vehicle Safety Bureau whenever an accident results in: - The death of a person. - Disappearance of a person under circumstances which suggest any possibility of death or injury. - Any injury requiring medical attention. - Property damage exceeding $500. Accidents resulting in death or serious injury must be reported within 48 hours. Other accident reports must be submitted within five days. (If a boat is lost, stolen, abandoned, or destroyed, the owner must notify the Massachusetts Environmental Police in writing within 15 days.) MASSACHUSETTS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICE BOAT AND RECREATION VEHICLE SAFETY BUREAU PO Box 1325 Forestdale, MA 02644 Phone: (508) 564-4961 Fax: (508) 564-4964 |
| Michigan | A report required by law shall be made by the operator of a vessel when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment, any of the following occur: (a) A person dies. (b) A person loses consciousness or receives medical treatment or is disabled for more than 24 hours. (c) Damage to the vessel and other property damage totals $2,000.00 or more. (d) A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury. A report shall be made within the time-frames as follows: (a) Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person dies within 24 hours of the occurrence. (b) Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person loses consciousness or receives medical treatment or is disabled for more than 24 hours or disappears from a vessel. (c) Within 5 days of the occurrence or death if an earlier report is not required by this rule. |
| Minnesota | The operator must promptly report the accident or incident to the sheriff of the county where the accident or incident occurred. Sheriffs are required to report all accidents and incidents to the commissioner of natural resources, who must periodically transmit a summary of the reports to the commissioner of public safety, and transmit statistics on boating accidents and incidents to the United States Coast Guard. A pilot of a boat shall report in writing to the office of the chief boiler inspector of the department any accident causing either: - death, - an injury that requires hospitalization, or - damage in excess of $1,000. In the event of a death, the report must be made within 48 hours. In the event of an injury or property damage, the report must be made within five days. |
| Mississippi | In the case of a boating accident involving collision, accident or other casualty involving a motorboat or vessel subject to this chapter, while operated upon the waters of this state, the operator thereof, if the collision, accident or other casualty results in: - death to any person, - injury causing any person to remain incapacitated for a period in excess of twenty-four (24) hours, or - damage to property in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00), shall file, on forms provided, with the commission an accident report with a full description of the collision, accident or other casualty, including such other information as is required under the provisions of this chapter. The commission shall furnish copies of reports to the appropriate federal agencies and sheriff of the county in which such accident or other casualty takes place. For the purpose of this chapter, a “boating accident” means a collision, accident or other casualty involving (1) an undocumented motorboat or (2) any other undocumented vessel used for pleasure or recreational purposes. A vessel subject to this chapter is considered to be involved in a “boating accident” whenever the occurrence results in: - damage by or to the vessel or its equipment; - in injury or loss of life to any person, or - in the disappearance of any person from on board under circumstances which indicate the possibility of death or injury. A “boating accident” includes, but is not limited to, capsizing, collision, foundering, flooding, fire, explosion and the disappearance of a vessel other than by theft. A report is required whenever a vessel subject to this chapter is involved in a “boating accident” which results in any one or more of the following: (1) Loss of life. (2) Injury causing any person to remain incapacitated for a period in excess of twenty-four (24) hours. (3) Actual physical damage to property (including vessels) in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00). |
| Missouri | Most reports of accidents must be made within five days of the accident. However, you must file an accident report within 48 hours if a person dies or is injured as a result of the accident. The operator also must file an accident report with the MSHP if: - A person dies or disappears or… - An injury occurs causing any person to lose consciousness, require medical treatment, or be disabled for more than 24 hours or… - Damage to the vessel and other property exceeds $500. Patrol Records Division 573-526-6113 Missouri State Highway Patrol Patrol Records Division PO Box 568 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0568 |
| Montana | An accident must be reported immediately to the local sheriffs office or game warden if it caused: - the death or disappearance of any person - an injury requiring medical treatment beyond first-aid - property damage in excess of $100 |
| Nebraska | The operator of every vessel involved in a boating accident is required to file a written report in duplicate, whenever a boating accident results in: - Loss of life (report within 48 hours) - Disappearance of a person (report within 48 hours) - Loss of consciousness (report within 48 hours) - Medical treatment/injury (report within 48 hours) - Property damage in excess of $500 (report within 5 days) Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Box 30370 Lincoln, NE 68503 402-471-0641 |
| Nevada | The operator of a vessel involved in an accident is required to file a report in writing whenever an accident results in: - loss of life - loss of consciousness, - medical treatment or disability in excess of 24 hours or - property damage in excess of $2000. Reports in death and injury cases must be submitted within 48 hours; reports in other cases are required within 10 days. Nevada Department of Wildlife 1100 Valley Road Reno, Nevada 89512 (775) 688-1500 |
| New Hampshire | Any person operating a vessel that is involved in an accident must submit a written accident report to the Division of Safety Services within 15 days after the accident. This is required when anyone is injured or killed or if damage to property exceeds $2,000. If the operator is physically or mentally incapable of making the accident report, it is the responsibility of the owner to prepare the report. In the event of an accident or other boating emergency, call Marine Patrol at 603-293-2037. |
| New Jersey | If the accident that you are involved in results in: - property damage in excess of $500, - injury or the death or disappearance of a person, you and the other operator are required to file a full description of the accident with the New Jersey State Police, Marine Law Enforcement station in the area where the accident occurred. The full description will also include any forms provided to you by the New Jersey State Police. If you are involved in a boating accident on the waters of the State of New Jersey, which includes up to three (3) nautical miles offshore, in which death or disappearance of a person occurs, you must report the accident without delay to the New Jersey State Police, Marine Law Enforcement station in the area where the accident occurred. All other boating accidents that result in personal injury or property damage in excess of $2,000 must be reported within ten (10) days to the New Jersey State Police, Marine Law Enforcement. New Jersey State Police Headquarters P.O. Box 7068 West Trenton, NJ 08628-0068 (609) 882-2000 |
| New Mexico | Boating accident formal written reports are required by the owner/operator of any vessel involved within 48 hours by law by both state and federal agencies for statistics and liability. The law also requires that any boat accident be immediately reported to law enforcement. In New Mexico, the boat accident must be reported if: - the property damage to any vessel(s), or property loss exceeds $100, - if there is an injury that requires EMS services (even if only to be checked, those are services recognized beyond first aid), - if that injury requires hospitalization, - if the accident resulted in the disappearance of a person(s) or there is death of a person. New Mexico State Parks Boating Safety 1220 St. Francis Drive Santa Fe, NM 87505 888-667-2757 |
| New York | Persons involved in a boating accident in which there was: - an injury, - death, - disappearance or - damage in excess of $1000 must report the matter in writing to State Parks within 5 days of the incident. Cases of death or injury shall be reported to the police immediately and to OPRHP within 48 hours. Mail to OPRHP, Marine Services, Albany, NY 12238 fax to 518-408-1030 E-Mail to BOATING@PARKS.NY.GOV |
| North Carolina | Boating accidents that occur on public waters must be reported to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (24-hour toll free at 800-662-7137) when any one of the following occur: - Loss of life, an injury requiring medical treatment or a person is unconscious or left disabled for 24 hours - Actual physical damage to property (including vessels) is in excess of $2,000 - A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission 1701 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1700 |
| North Dakota | If a boating accident involves injury, death or disappearance of a person, an accident report must be filled out and sent to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of the occurrence. If property damage exceeds $2,000, but no deaths or injuries are involved, a boat operator has five days to file a report. North Dakota Game and Fish Department 100 N. Bismarck Expressway Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 701-328-6300 |
| Ohio | A recreational boat operator is required by law to submit a Recreational Boating Accident Report when involved in an accident that results in: - Loss of life or disappearance from a vessel; OR - An injury that requires treatment beyond first aid; OR - Combined damage in excess of $500; OR - Complete loss of vessel. Reports must be submitted within 5 days except for loss of life, when a report is due within 24 hours. To report an accident, call: #ODNR from a cellphone 1-877-4BOATER (1-877-426-2837; within Ohio only), or (614) 265-6480 |
| Oklahoma | * This information sourced from Boat-Ed.com . Boat Ed is a very reliable source for information and certainly the best for online boater safety course that are required by law in most states. An accident report form must be submitted to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Marine Enforcement Section if the accident results in: - Death or disappearance of a person or... - Injury to a person requiring medical treatment beyond first aid or... - Property damage (including damage to vessels) in excess of $2,000. Reports of deaths or disappearances must be made by the quickest means possible to the local police department, county sheriff’s office, or highway patrol office. Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Marine Enforcement Arcadia Lake office 7000 East 2nd ST. Edmond, Oklahoma 73034 (405) 341-1893 |
| Oregon | Boat operators involved in an accident resulting in: - death, - injury or - property damage exceeding $2000 must report the accident to the State Marine Board on a Marine Board Accident Report Form within 48 hours of an accident resulting in death or injury, and within 10 days of accident causing property/equipment damage only. Oregon State Marine Board 435 Commercial St. NE., Ste 400 Salem, OR 97301 503-378-8587 |
| Pennsylvania | State Law requires a report to be completed and filed within 48 hours by the operator of any boat involved in an accident resulting in: - death, - disappearance or - injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid. Accidents involving aggregate property damage exceeding $2,000 must be reported within 10 days. Reports must be sent to: Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Boating Accident Report P.O. Box 67000 Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000 717-705-7861 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island boating accident report must be filled out by the owner/operator of any vessel that is involved in a boating accident on the inland waters and the coastal waters contiguous to this state that meets the following criteria: 1. Loss of life or disappearance from a vessel. 2. Injury to any person that requires medical treatment beyond ordinary first aid. (if you go to the emergency room or call a rescue, it is beyond first aid) 3. Property damage in excess of $2000.00 (combined damage to both vessels if more than one vessel involved) 4. Complete loss of a vessel. Reportable accidents must be submitted within five (5) days after the incident on forms provided by the department. Accidents must be reported to the State Authorities where the accident occurred. If more than one vessel is involved the owner/operator of all vessels must fill out and file a boating accident report. Department of Environmental Management Division of Law Enforcement 235 Promenade Street, Room 250 Providence, RI 02908 Attention: Boating Accident (401) 222-3070 |
| South Carolina | "Reportable boating accident" means an accident, collision, or other casualty involving a vessel which results in: - loss of life, - injury which results in loss of consciousness, - necessity for medical treatment, - necessity to carry a person from the scene, - disability which prevents the discharge of normal duties beyond the day of casualty, or - actual physical damage to property including vessels in excess of the minimum amount set by the United States Coast Guard ($2,000) for reportable accidents. In the case of a reportable accident, the operator or owner of any vessel involved shall file a full description of the accident with the department and provide any information the department may require when requested as part of the investigation within forty-eight (48) hours of the accident. In the event an accident results in death, loss of consciousness, or serious bodily injury, the owner or operator immediately shall notify the department. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Rembert C. Dennis Building 1000 Assembly Street Columbia, SC 29201 843-953-9302 |
| South Dakota | A vessel operator involved in a boating accident must report the accident if it results in: • Death or disappearance of any person or • Injury to any person or • Damage in excess of $1,000 to any one person's property or total damage in excess of $2,000 (for example, property damage may include damage from striking submerged objects such as stumps, rocks, etc). Accidents must be reported immediately, to the nearest conservation officer or other law enforcement officer, or call 911. |
| Tennessee | Vessel operators involved in an accident must notify TWRA immediately. Any boating accident involving - death, or - injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid - or the disappearance of a person should be reported as soon as possible, and must be reported within 48 hours. All accidents involving property damage in excess of $2000 (to one vessel or a combination of both vessels) must be reported within 10 days. The operator of every vessel involved in a reportable boating accident is required to file an accident form with the TWRA. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 5107 Edmondson Pike Ellington Agricultural Center Nashville, TN 37211 (615) 781-6500 |
| Texas | Operators of any vessel must report accidents and casualties to a local law enforcement agency or to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department within 30 days of the occurrence (48 hours if a fatality occurs) if the collision, accident or casualty resulted in: death (or missing person); or injury (requiring treatment beyond first aid) to any person; or property damage exceeding $2,000. To report a boating accident, call: (800) 792-1112 (512) 389-4848 (24-hour dispatch) Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744 |
| Utah | An operator shall immediately and by the quickest means of communication available notify the nearest state park ranger or other law enforcement officer of an accident that involves a vessel or its equipment when one of the following occurs: a person dies or disappears from a vessel under circumstances that indicate death; a person is injured and receives medical treatment beyond first aid; or property is damaged in excess of $2,000. The operator, owner, or other person on board shall submit a completed and signed Owner/Operator Boating Accident Report (PR-53A) to the division within 10 days of the accident. Forms are available from a park ranger or at: boating.utah.gov Division of Administrative Rules PO Box 141007 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1007 |
| Vermont | * This information sourced from Boat-Ed.com . Boat Ed is a very reliable source for information and certainly the best for online boater safety course that are required by law in most states. The operator must file an accident report with the Vermont DMV within 36 hours of the accident if: - A person dies or disappears or… - A person is injured requiring treatment beyond first aid or… - Damage to the vessel and other property exceeds $100. Accident report forms are available from any office of the Vermont DMV or any office of the Vermont State Police. DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES Agency of Transportation dmv.vermont.gov 120 State Street Montpelier, Vermont 05603-0001 Phone: 802.828.2000 / Toll Free: 888-99-VERMONT / TTD: 711 |
| Virginia | A formal, written report must be filed with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries when there is: - damage over $2000 by or to the vessel or its equipment; - injury (requiring medical help beyond first aid) or loss of life; and/or - disappearance of any person on board a vessel. When a person dies or disappears as a result of an occurrence that involves a vessel or its equipment, the operator is required by law to notify the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in Richmond, Virginia, or the most immediately available Department Conservation Police Officer without delay and by the quickest means possible. Boating Accident Report Forms can be obtained from local law enforcement authorities, Department Conservation Police Officers, and all Department offices. You may submit the completed forms in person or send them to: Law Enforcement Division — Boating Accident Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries P.O. Box 90778 Henrico, VA 23228 The boat operator or owner usually completes the form unless she/he is physically unable to do so. Call the Law Enforcement Division at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries if you have difficulty completing an accident report form (Central Office in Richmond, 804-367-1000). To report an accident that has just occurred, please contact the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Dispatch Section at (804) 367-1000. A Conservation Police Officer will be dispatched to the scene to investigate the accident. |
| Washington | Accident report forms are available from Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and local law enforcement marine units. Washington State law requires the operator of a recreational vessel involved in an accident to file a Washington Boat Accident Report (PDF) when: - Loss of life occurs - Injury occurs which requires medical treatment beyond first aid - A person disappears from a vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury - Property damage is in excess of $2,000, or there is complete loss of a vessel If there is an injury, disappearance or death, a report must be submitted within 48 hours. Reports in other accidents must be submitted within 10 days. If the operator cannot submit the report, the owner of the vessel is responsible. Reports must be submitted to the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the accident occurred. If you are not sure what agency has the authority, contact the Washington State Boating Program by email or call (360) 902-8555. WASHINGTON STATE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION P.O. Box 42654 Olympia, WA 98504 Phone: 360-902-8555 Fax: 360-586-6603 |
| West Virginia | The operator of any vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty which results in: - death or - personal injury that requires medical treatment beyond first aid, or - damage to property in excess of two thousand dollars ($2,000) must file a full description of the incident with the Division of Natural Resources on West Virginia Boating Accident Report Form MB-3. An accident report in a case involving a loss of life must be submitted to the Division within forty-eight (48) hours of the incident. An accident report in a case involving a reportable injury or property damage as described above must be submitted to the Division within five (5) days of the incident. An accident report must be submitted in person or by mail to: Division of Natural Resources Motorboat Safety Section 324 Fourth Ave South Charleston, WV 25303 (304) 558-2784 |
| Wisconsin | Boat accidents must be reported immediately to a conservation warden or other law enforcement officer if the accident (regardless of the number of boats involved) results in: - loss of life - injury that requires medical treatment beyond first aid - boat or property damage in excess of $2,000 or - complete loss of a boat. To report a boating accident or other violation, call 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367). In addition, within 10 days of the accident, the operator must submit a written report on Form 4100-20 (Operator Boating Incident Report Form) to the Department of Natural Resources. If you are unable to download the form from the DNR website (dnr.wi.gov/org/es/ enforcement/docs/4100020.pdf), forms are also available from DNR offices, sheriffs’ departments and many local police departments. Mail completed forms to: WI Department of Natural Resources Boating Program - LE/5 P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921 |
| Wyoming | The operator of any watercraft* involved in an accident on any of the waters of Wyoming is required by law to immediately notify a Wyoming law enforcement agency of the accident. In addition, the operator is required to complete a report whenever the watercraft accident results in: - Death or injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid. - The disappearance of any person from the watercraft under circumstances that indicate the possibility of death or injury. - Property damage in excess of five hundred dollars ($500). A watercraft accident includes: - capsizing - flooding - fire - explosion - disappearance of a watercraft other than by theft - and all collisions involving at least one watercraft and/or another watercraft, fixed, and/or floating objects, a written report must be submitted within 10 days as required by law. Mail completed report to: Wyoming Game and Fish Department Attention: Watercraft Safety 3030 Energy Lane Casper, WY 82604 * “Watercraft” means any contrivance used or designed primarily for navigation on water. |