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

An operator involved in a boating accident must:

• Stop their vessel immediately at the scene of the accident and …
• Give assistance to anyone injured in the accident and …
• 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.

Witnesses to a boating accident must give their names and addresses to the operators, passengers, or injured person.

The operator or owner of a vessel involved in an accident must file a written report with the Oregon State Marine Board if:

• A person dies, disappears, or is injured and receives medical treatment or …
• Damage to property exceeds $2,000.

Reports of accidents involving only property damage must be made within 10 days of the accident. However, you must file an accident report within 48 hours in cases involving a death, disappearance, or injury.

Passengers are responsible for reporting the accident if the operator is physically incapable of doing so.

Accident report forms are available from the Oregon State Marine Board. Download a copy of the Oregon Boating Accident Report (PDF file).

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