Should I Report My Boat Accident? After experiencing a boat accident, you might be wondering what the next steps should be. Firstly, we recommend getting medical attention for anybody who needs it. Even if there’s no external damage, people who experienced sudden impact or a knock to the ribs should be checked over to ensure there’s no internal damage.
After prioritizing the health of all passengers (and yourself!), your attention will then turn to reporting. Do you need to report your boat accident? Of the thousands of boat accidents in Florida, not all are reported, and this is because it needs to have fallen into the following criteria;
- If it caused damage of over $2,000 (including the vessel itself)
- If there’s a fatality
- If a passenger has disappeared
- If the vessel is extensively damaged
- If somebody needs emergency medical attention
If just one of these applies to a boat accident, it should be reported. In 2015 in Florida, around one-quarter of all reported accidents were collisions between two vessels. When two boats collide, there are a number of factors to consider when assessing the seriousness of the accident. If one boat was stationary in the dock, the damage is unlikely to be extreme. If both vessels were moving at some speed, this is likely to lead to at least one of the five outcomes above.
Causes of Fatalities
If we stick with 2015, the most common accident in Florida in this year was falling overboard. Sadly, 35 of the 55 who died actually drowned. In around 20% of all deaths, there were signs of alcohol and/or drug use. When passengers are inebriated, this increases the risk of a boat accident. When the operator is inebriated, this is simply careless and puts other vessels in danger.
If boat accidents meet one of the five requirements, they should always be reported. If you’ve been involved in a boat accident that wasn’t your fault, reach out to The Injury Firm and we’ll do all we can to gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and work towards a compensation package that meets your needs.
If you’re reading this as a precaution, the best way to stay safe is to stay sober, build experience, and never take your eye off the unforgiving water!
