Boat Accident FAQ

What is a boating accident?

A boating accident deals with any accident involving a watercraft. These include boats, ships, jet skis, and ferries. The causes of boating accidents include:

• collision
• capsizing
• fall overboard
• fire
• sinking
• flooding
• engine explosion
• engine malfunction
• equipment malfunction
• carbon monoxide asphyxiation

How common are boating accidents?

According to the United States Coast Guard, approximately 8,000 boat accidents occur every year. More than half of these boat accidents involve injury and almost 10% involve death.

What causes most boat accident fatalities?

Most fatal boating accident injuries are due to passengers falling overboard or the boat capsizing.

What should I do if I have been injured in a boating accident?

The first thing to do is file a report with the sheriff's office or coast guard. If you are able, then obtain as much information as you can about the accident. If you are unable to do so, then have a family member or your personal injury lawyer obtain this information.

You should obtain the negligent boater's name, address, phone number, and insurance information.

When must an accident report be filed?

You should file a boating accident report if:

How soon do I need to file a report after a boating accident?

Coast Guard regulations require you to file a report within 48 hours of the accident if a person is killed or is injured and requires treatment beyond first aid. If the accident causes more than $500 in property damage, it then must be reported within 10 days.

Where can I find information on Coast Guard regulations for small boats and personal water craft (PWC)?

All boaters should be aware of Coast Guard regulations and Florida Boating law and follow these rules at all times on the water. Here are some helpful links so you known the law:

• U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center
• Basic Florida Boating Law (National Association of Boating Law Administrators)
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Florida Boating Laws

If you or a loved have been involved in a Southwest Florida boat accident, then contact one our personal injury lawyers to discuss, confidentially, your boating accident claim.