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 his or her vessel immediately at the scene of the accident and ...
• Give assistance to anyone injured in the accident and ...
• Give his or her name, address, and vessel identification to the other boat’s operator and/or owner of damaged property.

Boat operators involved in an accident must report the accident to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC).

• The operator must notify PFBC immediately and report the accident in writing to PFBC within 48 hours if a person dies or disappears.
• The operator must report the accident in writing to PFBC within 48 hours if an injury occurs that causes any person to require medical attention beyond simple first aid.
• The operator must report the accident in writing to PFBC within 10 days if damage to the vessel and other property exceeds $2,000 or there is complete loss of any vessel.

Written reports must be made on accident report forms supplied by PFBC. You may access the Boating Accident Report form from the PFBC website.