Sounds to me like there are a bunch of lawyers (or want to be lawyers) on this site.
I am a boater, if I were to be involved in an "incident" (call it what you want) I would be looking at whatever I should have done different that might have avoided/prevented it.
I would of course separately be directing my lawyers to do all necessary to get the legals to my side, if needed
. Much different issue, usually unrelated to being a decent boater, as well.