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Jet Ski, Boating, and Water Accident Checklist

Use this checklist after a jet ski, boat, water sports, dock, or pool accident. For background, see Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft Accidents, Water Sports and Rental Injuries, Dock, Marina and Ferry Injuries, and Drowning and Swimming Pool Injuries.

Immediately

  • Get medical care, even for injuries that seem minor; internal and head injuries can be delayed.
  • Call 911 or the harbormaster, and in Massachusetts the Environmental Police, for serious incidents.
  • Get names, phone numbers, and registration numbers of all vessels and operators involved.

Evidence

  • Photograph the scene, the watercraft, damage, injuries, buoys, signs, and weather and water conditions.
  • Note the exact location, time, and tide if possible.
  • Get witness names and phone numbers, including other boaters and beachgoers.
  • Keep rental agreements, waivers, receipts, and any safety briefing materials.
  • Ask in writing that the rental company, marina, or property owner preserve video and maintenance records.
  • Do not let damaged equipment be repaired or discarded before it is documented.

Reports and Insurance

  • File any required boating accident report on time.
  • Notify your own insurers, including boat, homeowners, and health insurance.
  • Do not give a recorded statement to another party’s insurer before getting advice.

Deadlines

  • Maritime personal injury claims: generally three years (46 U.S.C. § 30106)
  • Passenger tickets and rental contracts: may require notice within months and suit within a year
  • Claims against cities and towns: written presentment requirements apply
  • Wrongful death: statutory deadlines apply in each state

See also our Boating and Cruise Injury Evidence Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report a boating or jet ski accident?

Federal and state rules require reporting of boating accidents involving death, disappearance, injury requiring treatment beyond first aid, or significant property damage. In Massachusetts, reports go to the Massachusetts Environmental Police. Deadlines are short.

Should I talk to the other boater’s insurance company?

Get advice first. Boat and watercraft insurers often ask for recorded statements early. Provide basic information, but discuss fault and injuries only after speaking with a lawyer.

What evidence disappears fastest?

Witness contact information, photos of the scene and conditions, damaged equipment, and rental records. Jet skis and boats are often repaired or sold quickly after an accident.

Talk With a Boating and Water Injury Attorney

If you or a family member was hurt in a jet ski, boating, or water accident, call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177, text the same number, or request a consultation online. We answer calls 24/7. Offices in Salem, Massachusetts and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Maritime deadlines and notice rules can be short, so contact us promptly.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes. Last reviewed November 2026.