Things To Do If You Are Involved In A Boating Accident

Florida is known for its beaches, beautiful ocean water, and awesome weather. It is the ideal location to hit the water for a fun day in the sun on your boat or another watercraft. Always do safety checks and inspections prior to going out on the water. This will ensure that you have taken all of the necessary precautions to make sure your vessel is seaworthy and prepared to handle any accidents that may occur. Boating can be a fun and pleasurable experience for the whole family, however, if an accident happens at sea, the situation can become hectic and blurred. There are many people that are probably not even familiar with what to do after a car crash, and those happen daily, so knowing what to do on the water can be like speaking a foreign language to them.

Safety And Well Being Should Always Come First

Before anything else is done, all passengers from all of the boats involved should be accounted for. No matter who is at fault, everyone should be safe and away from any dangers. Any passengers that may require medical attention should be given first aid treatment until either help arrives or you make it to shore for paramedics and lifeguards to take over. If one boat is taking on water, while the other is still afloat, everyone should be allowed safe passage on the remaining vessel. Once everyone is safe and secure, you can begin sorting the mess out by gathering this information…

• Insurance company names and policy numbers
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of anyone involved in the accident
• Identification numbers or registration information of other vessels involved
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of witnesses

You should also provide all of this same information to the operator of the other boat. Luckily, even on the water, most of us have our smartphones by our side. Take pictures of the damage that occurred to both boats. It is especially helpful if you can take the photos while the vessels are still at the scene of the accident. These can be most useful down the line, should you need them to prove fault to the insurance company.

File Reports With The United States Coast Guard

Hold on, before you snatch up your phone and start calling the police, you may want to redirect that call to the coast guard. You do not always have to file a boating accident report, but it is a good idea because it may prove to be beneficial with your claim. Federal law says that you must file a report if…

• A vessel has sunk or there is a complete loss of a vessel
• Damage to property or vessels exceeds or equals $2,000.00
• Injuries occur that require medical attention, other than minor first aid
• A disappearance of a person occurs, indicating injury or death
• A death occurs

You should always check with your local coast guard to gain a better understanding of how to properly handle a boating accident. There may be local requirements that differ slightly. Always try to remain calm during, and after, boating accidents. One of the top reasons for deaths occurring after an accident is drowning. People that become thrown from the vessel need to be accounted for quickly, and by calm, cool, and collected, you will be able to make sure that everyone is safe.