Whether or not a protest is determined to be valid can be based on a number of things, including procedures for notification, etc.
Protest validity requirements are relaxed for incidents involving serious damage. RRS 61.1(a)(3) states:
if the incident results in damage or injury that is obvious to the boats involved and one of them intends to protest, the requirements of this rule do not apply to her, but she shall attempt to inform the other boat within the time limit of rule 61.3.
If she cannot reasonably protest within the time limit, RRS 61.3 states (in part):
The protest committee shall extend the time limit if there is good reason to do so.
Furthermore, protest committee themselves can step in. RRS 60.3(a)(1) states:
A protest committee ... may protest a boat if it learns of an incident involving her that may have resulted in injury or serious damage...
The purpose of these rules is to make sure damaged boats or injured crew get every chance possible for a protest hearing. It's much, much better for a PC on site to determine the facts (and apply the rules) when everybody is present and the incident is fresh in people's minds, than for a court of law to try later.
Regards,
Eric
