What Should You Do If You Are Personally Injured by a Drone in San Diego, California?

SAN DIEGO, California. According to Fox 5 San Diego new laws regulating the use of commercial drones are now in effect. The laws regulate how and when commercial drone pilots can fly their drones. Drones are used commercially for surveillance, aerial photos, and film-making. The laws require users to keep drones within sight, and only permits users to fly during the day unless the drone has lights. The laws also place speed limits on drones at 100 miles per hour. Commercial drone users will also need to be properly licensed. Yet, according to Bloomberg, hobby drones continue to be popular and are expected to become more popular. This means that many novices without licensing, regulation, or any experience may be operating these vehicles over homes, parks, and streets. It is likely that as drones gain in popularity and acceptance, we may see more injuries.

Yet, as more people use hobby drones, the question of liability increasingly becomes an issue. Homeowner’s insurance may not always be expected to cover a broken window (or worse damage) due to drone usage. Parents who let their children operate drones should also be aware that they may be responsible for any medical bills and damages if their child’s drone injures another person. Personal injuries in San Diego, California, result in people having to miss time at work and undergo rehabilitation, not to mention the medical bills involved. If you or a loved one was injured due to another person’s negligent drone use, you may be entitled to receive a recovery under the law. JeffreyE. Estes & Associates are personal injury lawyers in San Diego who offer compassionate and caring counsel to victims of negligence or neglect.

According to Bloomberg, in 2015 alone, 700,000 drones were sold. Individuals who are purchasing drones are increasingly being encouraged to purchase liability insurance. Best Buy is even offering memberships to organizations that offer group liability insurance coverage to model aeronautics pilots. Group coverage policies explain that many claims are small, but some involve cases where drones crashed into cars. Amazon.com also refers buyers to a website that offers new users information about laws and restrictions regarding drone use. Size of the drone matters when it comes to whether a drone must be registered with the government, but laws regarding the use of small drones may not be passed until more accidents happen.

Until then, drone users have a responsibility to use their drones in a safe manner—which means keeping the drones away from people. Parents have a responsibility to manage their children’s usage. Until more regulation is in place, often the only recourse injured individuals will have is through civil court. If you have been injured or suffered a loss due to another person’s drone use, the personal injury lawyers at Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates may be able to assist you. You may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim. Contact us today to learn more about your rights. Call our offices at 619-233-8021 or visit our website www.jeffreyesteslaw.com.