Boating Accidents

Heading out on the water this long weekend? Watch this first: Partner Ian Furlong shares key boating safety tips and what you should know about insurance before you set sail.

Not only does your boat need to be insured, but just like when you’re driving a motor vehicle here in Ontario, you need a license to drive that boat.

There’s been a lot of changes, recently. So, it’s time to review your insurance on your boats. The Marine Liability Act used to cap recovery at $1 million. That’s changed now. People in inland lakes, if negligent, if causing damages to another, can be subject to liability up to $1.5 million plus costs. It’s time to speak to your broker and see if you need to adjust your policy limits.

What do boat owners need to know?

If you have a boat and it’s under ten horsepower, it doesn’t need to be registered, and it doesn’t need to be insured. It will fall under your homeowner’s policy. But anything over ten horsepower will need to be insured.

The other issue these days is that they’re enforcing more and more the drinking and driving laws. And what we hear a lot from the OPP is at least 12 hours before or between bottle to throttle.

It’s beer on the pier. Water on the water.

Contact Thomson Rogers LLP

If you’ve been injured on a boat or been injured while being towed on a boat or on a personal watercraft, please give us a call for a free legal consultation.

Ian Furlong has practiced exclusively in the area of personal injury and insurance-related matters since his call to the bar in 2004. He primarily dedicates his practice to children and adult victims injured in motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle accidents, pedestrian-car accidents, ATV accidents, and snowmobile accidents. He represents accident victims and their families throughout Ontario. You can reach Ian at 416-868-3226 or by email.