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Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Boating Accidents & Casualties—What the Law Requires You to Do

The operator of a vessel involved in an accident must submit a written report to the Alabama Marine Police Division if as a result of the accident:

• A person dies or disappears or ...
• A person is injured and remains incapacitated for more than 72 hours or ...
• Damage to the vessel and other property exceeds $50.

Reports of accidents must be made within 10 days of the accident on the forms provided by Marine Police officers, the Marine Police Division or county sheriff's offices.

An operator involved in a boating accident should stop his or her vessel immediately at the scene of the accident and:

• Give assistance to anyone injured in the accident.
• Give their name, address, and identifying number of their vessel as well as the names and addresses of passengers to the other vessel's operator and/or passengers.

A uniformed Marine Police officer, county sheriff, or other authorized enforcement officer may arrest, at the scene of the accident, any person they reasonably believe contributed to the accident.

A person who unlawfully and unintentionally causes the death of another person, while engaged in violation of any boating law or regulation, will be guilty of homicide.

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