BOATING ACCIDENTS

Watercraft accidents or collisions; duty to render aid; reportable accidents; operators required to report; accident investigation; seizure of watercraft.

The operator of a watercraft involved in a collision, accident or other casualty, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own watercraft, crew, passengers and guests, shall render to other persons affected by the collision, accident or other casualty such assistance as may be practicable and as may be necessary in order to save them from or minimize any danger caused by the collision, accident or other casualty. The operator shall give his name, address and identification of his watercraft to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged in the collision, accident or other casualty.

Reportable Accidents

If a collision, accident or other casualty involving a watercraft results in:

• Death or injury to a person requiring medical treatment beyond first aid,
• Disappearance of any person from the watercraft under circumstances which indicate the possibility of death or injury, or
• Damage to property in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00).
• Accidents include capsizing, flooding, fire, explosion, disappearance of the watercraft other than by theft and all collision accidents involving other watercraft or fixed or floating objects.

The watercraft operator shall immediately provide notice of the accident to any Wyoming law enforcement agency or peace officer of this state.

The operator of any watercraft involved in a reportable watercraft accident shall immediately provide notice of the accident to any Wyoming law enforcement agency or peace officer. If a watercraft operator is not able to provide notice under this subsection, another adult person on the watercraft at the time of the accident may provide the required notice. Notice under this subsection shall to the extent reasonably known, contain the following information:

For each watercraft involved in the accident, the identifying number assigned by the certificate of number issued to the watercraft;

• The location, time and date of the accident;
• The name, address and age of the operator of each watercraft involved in the accident;
• If not operating the watercraft at the time of the accident, the name and address of the watercraft owner;
• The name and address of any person injured, killed or missing as a result of the accident;
• The nature and extent of each injury resulting from the accident;
• A description of any property damage resulting from the accident;
• The name and address of any passengers on the watercraft at the time of the accident.

10-Day Rule

In addition, the watercraft operator shall within ten (10) days after the date of the accident, file with the department a full description of the collision, accident or other casualty.

If the cause of any reportable watercraft accident cannot be immediately determined during the investigation of the accident by the appropriate peace officer or law enforcement agency and the watercraft is necessary for investigative purposes, the officer or agency may temporarily seize and hold any watercraft involved in the accident.

Accident Report Form