Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements
of Boating
Boating Accidents & Casualties—What The Law Requires
You To Do
Vessel operators involved in an accident must provide their
name, address and vessel registration number to other involved
parties, provide assistance to any injured persons and, in
case of a death or disappearance, report the accident without
delay to law enforcement officials.
Any person involved in a boating accident resulting in injury,
death or disappearance who is convicted of leaving the scene
without furnishing appropriate information to others involved
and/or rendering reasonable assistance to any injured person
is liable for a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment
for up to one year.
Vessel operators or owners must immediately report the accident
to the agency responsible for the waterway. The operator
or owner must also make a written report of a boating accident
to the Department of Boating and Waterways if it has resulted
in:
- Death or disappearance of a person
- Injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid
- Property damage exceeding $500 to all vessels, docks,
etc. involved in the accident, or the complete loss of
a vessel
This written accident report must be submitted within 48
hours of the accident in cases involving death, disappearance
or injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid. In
all other incidents where a written accident report is required,
the report must be made within 10 days of the accident.
Report forms are available through most sheriff’s
and harbormaster’s offices and many police departments.
They may also be obtained online from the Department of Boating
and Waterways at www.dbw.ca.gov/PDF/AccidentForms/BAR.pdf.
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