Reporting an Accident

The operator of a vessel involved in a boating accident or the owner of the vessel reporting for the operator must complete and submit a written boating accident report if:

• A person dies or disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury or…
• A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid or…
• Damage to the vessel(s) or other property exceeds $2,000 or there is complete loss of a vessel.

The boating accident report must be submitted to the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the accident occurred within the following timeframes.

• Within 48 hours of the accident if:
  • A person dies within 24 hours of the accident or…
  • A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid or…
  • A person disappears from a vessel.

  Accident report forms are available from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and the marine unit of local law enforcement agencies.

  Additional information and the boating accident report form are available on the Washington State Parks website.

  Important

  Boating accidents in Washington often result in immersion in cold water. Be aware that the water is always cold in Washington. The average water temperature throughout most of Washington is 50˚F year-round.

  • Unit 4 of 6
  • Topic 18 of 21
  • Page 2 of 2

  

  Boat-ed.com is produced by Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC. Kalkomey is an official state-delegated provider that provides boating education courses and certification and publishing boating safety education materials.

  More Online Recreational Safety Courses from Kalkomey

  About Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC

  Kalkomey is the official provider of recreational safety education materials for all 50 states. We provide online boating and hunting and other recreational safety education. View press releases.

  224 W. Campbell Rd. #512
  Richardson, TX 75080