The proliferation of drones in the skies has increased year over year. This is primarily due to the increase in private and corporate use of drone technology. Drones are now fairly inexpensive and also rather easy to operate making anyone think they can safely be a drone pilot.
However, flying a drone requires the operator to act with the same amount of reasonableness and care that they would take if operating any other type of machinery. There have been many instances where drone “pilots” have acted recklessly or negligently and caused injuries to others. (See Article: Drone Smashes into Triathlete during Race.) So, if you have been injured by a drone, you should know your rights and how to protect them.
A Drone Pilot’s Duty of Care
When an individual puts a drone into the sky they must be careful not to act negligently or recklessly during its operation:
Negligent Drone Operation: When a drone is being operated by someone they must be sure that they are flying the drone in a way that is not likely to cause harm to someone else. (See Article: What is Negligence?) This situation may vary depending on the situation.
For example, if a drone is being used to film a particular outdoor event, the operator of that drone must be sure to keep it far enough away from individuals so that it will not likely strike someone if it were to drop out of the sky. Additionally, if a drone is being operated and the operator is not paying attention to the drone’s surroundings and it causes an injury the operator could be found to be negligent and therefore responsible for injuries to individuals and property.
Reckless Drone Operation: Reckless behavior is typically defined as behaviors that are done without thinking or caring about the consequences that might occur. For example, if a drone operator is flying a drone through a crowd of people and trying to dodge them as a game, those actions could be considered reckless. If someone is reckless in the operation of a drone and they injure someone because of their reckless behavior, they will be held responsible for the injuries that they caused.
What to Do if Injured by a Drone
If you have been injured by someone operating a drone, there are a few things that you need to do in order to make sure that you are getting proper compensation for your injuries.
First, you need to gather all of the personal contact information of the drone operator. This includes the person’s phone number, address and whether or not he/she was operating the drone under the direction of an employer.
Second, you should speak with someone who is experienced in handling drone injury cases. It is not always easy to establish that someone was negligent in the operation of a drone and partnering with a lawyer that can work though the sometimes complex legal structure will become essential to getting the compensation you need.
If you need to speak with a Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer regarding an injury that you incurred because of someone else’s negligence when flying a drone, you can call the lawyers a H & P. We would be happy to give you a free consultation if you call 702-912-4451. Or, you can click here to request a meeting time.
Matt Pfau is an attorney and founding partner at the law firm H & P. Matt has a background in business consulting, estate planning, business start-ups and bankruptcy and is licensed to practice in both Nevada and California. A partner in the firm H & P, he can be reached at 702-912-4451.
