Every boating accident in Oregon requires the following of an owner:
(1) You must report the boating accident if there is personal injury, death, or property damage more than $2,000 to the state marine board.
(2) The report on the boating accident must be filed by you within 48 hours in case of injury or death.
(3) The report must be filed within 10 days with boat accident involving only property damage and no injuries

Boating under the influence, or BUI, injuries occur each year on Oregon and Washington State waters. Like DUI cases BUI injury cases can result in a money settlement on the injury portion of the claim.

Boating laws, protocol and maritime issues get really complex and oftentimes an expert is needed to help bring a successful BUI case to a money settlement.

Issues on BUI cases that arise include preservation of evidence, right of way, visibility, degree of intoxication and legal causation

Anytime a death occurs or a boater/passenger is injured an injury into legal causation should be undertaken promptly especially after a boating death. Since 1990 we have seen a statewide low of 7 boater deaths and it rose to 25 in 1993.

This year (2008) we have seen only 13 boater deaths which is about average. Boating injuries especially with the popular rafting sport can include facial lacerations and severe facial trauma such as orbital blowouts.

With as many rafting rivers as Oregon has boater deaths will occur in the future and my best advise is to have a lawyer exam the facts of the occurrence and evaluate the law even if a waiver was signed by the person who went rafting and boating.