Find a boat accident lawyer in Midland: which lake, which warden, which deadline
Midland has no large lake that we could find, so boat crashes involving Midland families usually happen at lakes outside the county. Call 911, then a Texas game warden. Texas wants a written report within 30 days. A suit over a boat crash generally has to be filed within 2 years.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (20)
Where do Midland residents go boating?
To lakes outside the county. We did not find a public boat ramp inside Midland County, so this page follows the places Texas Parks and Wildlife lists nearby.
| Lake | What TPWD lists | Why it matters after a crash |
|---|---|---|
| J.B. Thomas Reservoir | A one-lane boat ramp with parking for 10 that may not be usable when the lake is low | Low water and a crowded ramp are things to photograph |
| Lake Colorado City | Boat ramps at the state park and at Cooper's Cove | The state park and a private ramp are run by different operators |
The county where the crash happens decides which sheriff answers. Midland County's game wardens are listed by TPWD at 432-230-6584 and 325-482-7205. Another county has its own wardens.
Do I have to report a boat accident if I live in Midland?
Yes, when someone needs more than first aid. Texas requires a report to a game warden or officer within 30 days after the incident.
| Rule | Deadline | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Federal rule | 48 hours | An injury needing treatment beyond first aid, or a person who disappears |
| Federal rule | 10 days | Other reportable accidents |
| Texas law | 30 days | Death, injury beyond first aid, or set property damage |
Treat the shortest clock as your deadline. If the driver cannot file, the owner files instead. The operator must also give vessel identification in writing to anyone hurt.
What should I do after a boat crash near Midland?
- Call 911 and get everyone out of the water. Give the lake name and the nearest ramp.
- Get care and tell the staff the injury came from a boat crash. Midland Memorial's emergency department carries a Level 3 trauma rating, and Medical Center Hospital in Odessa is rated Level II.
- Ask the game warden or deputy for the report number.
- Photograph the boat, the propeller, the water level and any damage.
- Write down the boat's registration number and the other operator's insurance.
- Keep your life jackets, clothing and gear.
Who pays after a boat accident that hurts a Midland resident?
- The other boat's owner or operator, through boat or homeowner insurance.
- The rental company or tour operator, if the boat was rented. Read the paper you signed.
- The maker of the boat, motor or propeller guard, if a part failed.
- A state or local government, if a ramp, dock or park condition played a part. That claim needs notice within 6 months.
If you are blamed for more than 50 percent of the crash, Texas bars recovery. If a child was aboard, the time to sue is paused until the child is 18.
How long do I have to sue after a boat accident in Midland?
Two years under Texas law. If the crash is a maritime case, federal law sets 3 years. Whether it is maritime depends on where it happened and its link to maritime activity. Use the shorter date until a lawyer tells you otherwise.
Deaths and serious injuries on the water are rarely about one thing. Alcohol is the leading known factor in boating deaths nationally.
Questions
Does Midland County have a game warden?
Yes. TPWD lists two game wardens for Midland County and the Sheriff's Office at 432-688-4600.
Is a boat accident a Midland Police case?
Not usually. Midland Police work inside the city, and deputies cover the rest of the county. On a lake, the game warden and that county's sheriff respond.
Where do I file a lawsuit?
If you live in Midland County, you can file with the District Clerk at 500 N. Loraine, Suite 300, 432-688-4500. A lake crash may belong in the county where it happened.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (20)
- Tex. Parks & Wild. Code 31.105, checked 2026-11-09. “Not later than the 30th day after the date of an incident to which this section applies”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Tex. Parks & Wild. Code 31.105, checked 2026-11-09. “injury to a person that requires medical treatment beyond the provision of first aid”
- 33 CFR 173.55, checked 2026-11-09. “Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid, or disappears from a vessel”
- 46 U.S.C. 30106, checked 2026-11-09. “a civil action for damages for personal injury or death arising out of a maritime tort must be brought within 3 years after the cause of action arose”
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, checked 2026-11-09. “One-lane boat ramp with parking for 10; ramp may not be usable when lake is low”
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, checked 2026-11-09. “Boat ramps are available at Lake Colorado City State Park (325) 728-3931 and Cooper's Cove.”
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, checked 2026-11-09. “Game Warden Bean 432-230-6584 Game Warden T. Washington 325-482-7205 Sheriff's Office: 432-688-4600”
- 33 CFR 173.55, checked 2026-11-09. “Within 10 days of the occurrence or death if an earlier report is not required by this paragraph.”
- 33 CFR 173.55, checked 2026-11-09. “the owner shall submit the casualty or accident report”
- Tex. Parks & Wild. Code 31.104, checked 2026-11-09. “identification of his vessel in writing to any person injured”
- Midland Health, Our Services, checked 2026-11-08. “is a Level 3 Adult Trauma Center”
- Texas DSHS Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-09. “MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL 2/1/2029 J ODESSA 79761”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
- Jerome B. Grubart v. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (U.S. 1995), checked 2026-11-09. “must satisfy conditions both of location and of connection with maritime activity”
- USCG Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, checked 2026-11-09. “Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents; where the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 20% of deaths.”
- Midland County Sheriff, Patrol Division, checked 2026-11-08. “patrol all 902 square miles of Midland County”
- Midland County, Staff Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Suite Number 300”