Ensure everyone on board has a life jacket on. Make sure you know where your safety box is to include a flare gun, first aid kit, and a whistle.
Call for help and report the accident. Depending on the location of your vessel at the time of the accident, you may need to call the Harbor Master, the Department of Environmental Management, or the Coast Guard.
When calling, ensure you have your GPS position to include latitude and longitude, let them know if you have an EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon) on board, the number of passengers (including yourself) your vessel is carrying, and if anyone is injured. Tell them if the vessel is taking on water and whether or not you have a life raft available to safely get off the vessel.
Never move your boat prior to the rescue party arriving.
If you are injured, let the Coast Guard know and they will send medical assistance immediately.
If no one is injured, and this a minor accident, leaving both vessels operable, the rescuing party may not be able to respond for several hours depending on how busy they are.
Once you have determined that everyone is out of immediate danger, make sure to gather the appropriate information including names, addresses, phone numbers, and pictures of the boat operators, passengers from all vessels involved in the crash, and any eyewitnesses to the event. Also, obtain a picture of the vessel registration and the vessel identification number from the other vessels involved as well as insurance company names and insurance policy numbers. Taking pictures of the damage to all vessels involved in the crash can be helpful if you later need to prove that the other boat operator was responsible for the accident.
If you are injured, never refuse medical treatment by rescue personnel. Be transported by rescue to the nearest hospital to get medical treatment.
Once you have received any necessary medical attention and have gathered all the information above, call Rob Levine & Associates. Remember, the sooner we begin our investigation, gathering evidence and all the facts, the easier to prove the defendant is liable for the accident.
