The most reported type of boating accidents involved collisions with other vessels, although more than half of the fatalities reported were due to capsizing or falls. In general, inattentive or inexperienced operators, careless or reckless operation, and excessive speed are the leading causes of all boating accidents. Additionally, approximately 80 percent of all boating accident fatalities occurred on vessels where the operator had not received boating safety instruction. Alcohol was involved in 39 percent of all fatal boating accidents.

Under federal regulations, the operator of any recreational vessel must report a boating accident to the U.S. Coast Guard under four circumstances: a person dies; a person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid; damage to the vessel or the other property totals $2,000 or more, or there is complete loss of the vessel; a person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury. The Coast Guard stated that there were 12,854,054 numbered recreational boats in operation in 2002. Reported boating accidents totaled 5,705 and resulted in 750 fatalities and 4,062 injuries.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a boating accident and have sustained injury or loss of personal property, please submit the accompanying form. You may be entitled to monetary awards for your injury!