In New Jersey, boaters liability insurance isn’t mandatory. If an operator collides with your boat, there’s always a possibility that they won’t have coverage to pay your damages. Some homeowners’ policies provide liability coverage for their insured’s boating activities under their Section II Liability coverage. If the negligent boater has homeowners liability coverage, engine power, boat use, and boat size restrictions often apply.
If you have Uninsured Boater coverage on your policy, your insurance company may pay your damages. Uninsured Boater coverage usually pays you and your family members’ damages from an accident with a negligent, uninsured boater.
UB coverage excludes certain circumstances.
- It excludes claims where the responsible party’s insurance company denied liability.
- It doesn’t pay underinsured claims where the other party has insurance but not enough to pay all of your damages.
- It doesn’t pay damages caused by a US government vessel.
- It doesn’t pay if the negligent boater has any other applicable coverage.
Uninsured boater coverage pays only those damages for which an uninsured boater is legally liable. If you have UB coverage, your own insurer assumes the role of the other person’s liability carrier. They pay claims the liability carrier would have paid had the negligent boater purchased liability coverage.