Recreational drones became available for non-military use in 2006 and, by 2015, had become a regular sighting in Broward County. Though drones have a variety of useful applications, including search and rescue, surveillance, firefighting, real estate photography, and even videography to capture life’s special moments from above, they come with an element of risk that can lead to serious injury or even the death of innocent bystanders.

Drone accident injuries are more common than you may expect, and these increasing occurrences leave many people with questions regarding how to proceed in the case of an injury. We closely follow the legal implications of drone activity and the new risks they have recently introduced to people and property. If you’ve been looking for a drone accident lawyer in South Florida to represent you in a personal injury claim, contact Cohen & Juda, P.A. for a free consultation.

The Hidden Dangers of Drones

You may have seen them buzzing directly overhead or high in the sky, but you might be surprised to learn how common drone crashes are. It turns out that one in three drone owners will crash their drones at some point.

Since drones can travel at speeds of over 100 miles per hour and glide at elevations over 5,000 feet, it’s no wonder that many drone injuries are severe, with potentially life-threatening consequences.

Common drone injury accidents include:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Head injuries
• Internal injuries
• Extremity injuries

How Drone Accidents Happen

Given the relative newness of drone use and a lack of licensing for recreational use, mishaps with drones are accidents waiting to happen. Further, minors often use drones with minimal training or adult supervision. Because drones can travel significant distances, they can end up outside the visual sight of the operator, and drones can collide with large groups of people at events like weddings, parties, and concerts.

Negligence, unskilled operation, and pilot error aren’t the only causes of drone accidents. In some situations, the drone equipment itself could be faulty. If the manufacturer released a unit with a defect or manufactured a batch of equipment with a significant design flaw, the drone could malfunction through no fault of the pilot. Working with a personal injury lawyer allows you to explore all these avenues and determine the right path to move forward with a claim.

Steps to Take After a Drone Injury

In the immediate aftermath of a drone injury, you may wonder how to proceed regarding medical care, speaking to an insurance company, or discussing the accident with a personal injuries lawyer. Though every drone accident will have a unique set of circumstances, we recommend the following steps to ensure your health and well-being while increasing your chances of a successful claim.

Seek Medical Care Following a Drone Accident

Your health is your primary concern, and you must seek medical attention immediately after being struck by a drone. Even if you’re unsure if your injuries are serious, this is a prudent step to protect your claim, as you need to have medical documentation of your injuries and what caused them. If you discover a serious injury later, your case could be compromised because the insurance company or pilot could argue that your injury is unrelated to the drone incident.

Collect and Safeguard the Drone Owner’s Contact Information

You must identify the drone’s pilot and keep their contact information so we can later seek compensation from them. If there are any witnesses, save their information as well. The witnesses can corroborate your story and provide additional evidence from their perspective.

Determining Who is Liable for a Drone Accident That Results in Injuries

Often, the pilot of the drone will be liable for your injuries. If the pilot is a minor, the parents could be the party from whom you will seek damages.

The liable party could also be the drone manufacturer. If the device had a defect or design flaw, or if there were improper or inadequate warning labels on the packaging, liability for your injuries may land on the manufacturer—either instead of or in addition to the drone’s owner. Your attorney will gather information about your injury during your initial consultation before beginning an investigation of any applicable third-party liability.

Contact an Experienced Drone Accident Lawyer in South Florida

The owner or operator of the drone might prefer to settle directly without going through an insurance company, or they may seek to utilize a homeowners or liability insurance policy to cover your damages. Either way, our firm’s lawyers for personal injury with experience in drone accidents will be able to guide you in recommending a strategy to seek maximum compensation.

Contact an experienced Florida personal injury attorney to discuss the incident as soon as possible. Acting quickly to preserve evidence and prevent the statute of limitations from running out is essential.

Cohen & Juda, P.A. Will Represent You Personally To Seek Compensation for Your Injuries in Florida

Drones have been operating in our environment for over a decade, with more people using them for recreational and professional purposes each year. Accidents and injuries from drones occur more often than you might expect, and many cases are due to improper use or faulty products. We are here to help you seek recovery for drone injuries in Florida. We welcome your questions.

With over 30 years of experience, the attorneys at Cohen & Juda, P.A. advocate for the rights of injury victims in South Florida. Call us today at 954-424-1440, or fill out the form on our website to schedule your free consultation with a drone injury lawyer. We will represent you personally.

Copyright © 2022. Cohen and Juda, P.A. All rights reserved.

The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Cohen and Juda P.A.
8211 W Broward Blvd, Suite 310
Plantation, FL 33324
954-424-1440
https://www.cohenandjudaflorida.com/