Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Boating Accidents & Casualties—What the Law Requires You to Do

An operator involved in a boating accident must:

• Stop their vessel immediately at the scene of the accident and …
• Aid anyone injured in the accident, unless doing so would endanger their own vessel or passengers and …
• Give, in writing, his or her name, address, and vessel identification to the other vessel’s operator and/or owner of damaged property.

Immediate Report of the Accident

When an accident occurs that requires a written report (see below), the operator must, without delay and by the quickest means available, notify the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) in Richmond, Virginia, or the most immediately available member (Conservation Police Officer) of the department’s law enforcement force, of:

• The date, time, and exact location of the occurrence and ...
• The major details of the accident including the name of each person who died or disappeared and ...
• The number and name of the vessel and ...
• The names and addresses of the owner and operator.

When the operator of a vessel cannot give the notice described above, each person on board the vessel must notify VDGIF or a member of its law enforcement force, or determine that the notice has been given.

Written Report of the Accident

In addition to the notification required above, the operator of a vessel must submit a written casualty or accident report to VDGIF when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment:

• A person dies or ...
• A person is unable to perform normal or usual activities or ...
• Damage to the vessel and other property damage totals more than $2,000 or complete loss of the vessel or ...
• A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate probable death or injury.

A written report must be made:

• Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person dies within 24 hours of the occurrence or if a person is unable to perform normal or usual activities or if a person disappears from a vessel or ...
• Within 10 days of the occurrence or death if an earlier report is not required.

When the operator of a vessel cannot submit the written report required by this section, the owner must submit the required report.

Virginia boating accident report forms can be obtained from any office of the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheriesor online.