Boating DUI, Speeding, Boat Injuries, Reckless Boating

Boating watercraft areas in North Carolina such as Albemarle, Cape Fear, Crystal Coast, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Outer Banks, Pamlico and other North Carolina water ways can be fun and have long lasting memories. Though boating is simple, fun and relaxing; sometimes accidents & citations may happen. Our North Carolina lawyers will advise you of all your boating rights and your legal options. Along with North Carolina boating laws, there are also Federal boating laws that must be followed.

Have you been injured in a boating accident or need boating legal assistance? Contact our North Carolina boat accident lawyers to find out your legal rights and options.

Boating watercraft accident reporting is defined by North Carolina law, any accident involving death, disappearance or personal injury beyond first aid, or damage greater than $500 must be reported. Death, disappearance and injury cases must be reported within 48 hours. Other accidents must be reported within 10 days. Accidents should be reported to the Wildlife Resources Commission on a form provided by them.

Boating While Intoxicated: No person shall operate any motorboat or vessel, or manipulate any water skis, surfboard or similar device while under the influence of an impairing substance, nor operate any motor vessel after consuming alcohol sufficient to cause a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater.

Although local conditions may warrant the imposition of definite limitations on speed of vessels, a general speed limit is that which is implied in safe vessel operation under existing circumstances. Speed which is excessive under the circumstances, and which endangers persons or property, is one form of reckless operation which is prohibited by North Carolina boating law. Watercraft entering, leaving or passing within 50 yards of a state-owned or controlled boating and fishing access area must do so at "no-wake" speed. Boaters should stay at least 50 feet away from a diver-down flag.

North Carolina boating issues & regulations that may need legal assistance can be any of the following:

• Speed Limits and Reckless Operation
• Personal Flotation Devices
• Navigation Rules
• Diving and Snorkeling
• Water Skiing
• No Person Shall Tow a Person on Water Skis, Surfboards or Similar Device
• Registration/Documentation
  

All vessels operated on the waters of North Carolina must be numbered except:

Vessels documented by the United States Bureau of Customs or any federal agency successor there to

Foreign vessels using North Carolina waters temporarily

Vessels owned by the United States Government or by a state, county or municipality

Vessels used exclusively as life boats

Sailboats not over 14 ft. in length at the load waterline

Vessels with no means of propulsion other than drifting or manual paddling, poling or rowing

Vessels with a current number from another state or country temporarily using North Carolina waters. (Less than 90 consecutive days.)

The certificate of vessel number must be onboard when the vessel is in use.

The vessel's number must be painted or permanently affixed on the forward half of each side of the vessel.

Have you been injured in a boating accident or need boating legal assistance? Contact our North Carolina boat accident lawyers to find out your legal rights and options.