It's the Law: On the Water

Boating Accidents

An operator involved in a boating accident must:

• Stop his or her vessel immediately at the scene of the accident unless the action would endanger his or her own vessel, crew, or passengers and ...
• Give assistance to anyone injured in the accident and ...
• Give his or her name, address, and identifying number of his or her vessel to the other vessel's operator and/or owner of damaged property.

Vessel operators involved in an accident must report the accident by the quickest means possible if the accident has resulted in:

• A death or disappearance of a person or …
• An injury causing a person to require medical attention beyond first aid or …
• Damage to the vessel and other property of $2,000 or more.

The report of the accident must be made to:

• The Division of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (call 1-888-404-3922, or #FWC or *FWC from a mobile phone) or …
• The sheriff of the county where the accident occurred or ...
• The police department of the municipality in which the accident occurred.

Failure to report an accident and failure to render aid are both criminal offenses.