Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Boating Accidents and 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 …
• Assist anyone injured or in danger from the accident, unless doing so would seriously endanger his or her own vessel or passengers and …
• Give, in writing, his or her name, address, and vessel identification to anyone injured and to the owner of any damaged property.

A vessel operator involved in a boating accident must report the accident if it results in:

• Death or disappearance of any person or...
• Injury to any person or...
• Damage in excess of $1,000 to any one person’s property or total damage in excess of $2,000 (for example, property damage may include damage from striking submerged objects such as stumps, rocks, etc.).

Accidents must be reported immediately, by the quickest means of communication, to the nearest South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks officer or other law enforcement officer.

In the event the operator is incapable of reporting the accident, another occupant of the vessel involved in the accident must provide notification of the accident.

Any operator or occupant who fails to give the required accident report to a law enforcement officer is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.