How Drone Accidents Impact Injury Claims in Georgia

How Drone Accidents Impact Personal Injury Claims

Determining Liability

Establishing who is liable in a drone accident can be challenging. The operator may be directly responsible, but other parties—such as manufacturers, employers, or property owners—might share liability under certain circumstances.

In many drone cases, FAA rules can strengthen your case (and help prove negligence). One of the most valuable pieces of evidence is whether the operator complied with FAA requirements such as:

• Registration rules (with limited exceptions for very light recreational drones)
• Remote ID compliance for drones that require registration (with FAA enforcement after the discretion period ended in 2024)
• Operational rules under Part 107 (commercial) including restrictions and conditions for operations over people and moving vehicles
• Recreational requirements like taking TRUST for recreational flying under the federal exception

Why this matters: if the operator violated safety rules designed to protect the public, that can be powerful proof that they failed to act reasonably.

Evidence Gathering

Drone accidents often involve technical evidence, including flight logs, video footage, maintenance records, and witness statements. Proper investigation is critical to building a strong claim. Drone cases can become evidence fights fast. Helpful evidence includes:

• Photos/video of the drone, injuries, and scene
• The drone itself (do not alter it—preserve it)
• Names/contact info of the operator and witnesses
• Any app logs, controller screenshots, or flight records
• Police/incident reports (when available)
• Medical records and timeline of symptoms
• Nearby surveillance footage (businesses/homes)

If the drone operator leaves, try to safely capture identifying details (vehicle tag, company name on shirts/vehicles, etc.).

Comparative Fault

Georgia follows a comparative fault system. Georgia comparative fault can reduce—or bar—recovery. If the injured party is found partially responsible (for example, by ignoring safety warnings), the court may reduce their compensation proportionally. If the court finds you 50% or more at fault, it can bar you from recovering damages; if you’re less than 50% at fault, your damages can be reduced by your percentage of fault.

In drone cases, defendants sometimes argue the injured person:

• walked into a posted flight area
• ignored warnings
• tried to grab the drone
• or created the hazard by approaching

That doesn’t automatically defeat a claim—but it’s one reason why witness statements, video, and scene documentation are so important.

Insurance Challenges

Insurance policies may not explicitly cover drone-related accidents, leading to disputes over coverage and claim payouts.

Another major “impact” of drone accidents in Georgia is that the insurance coverage isn’t always obvious. Depending on the situation, coverage may come from:

• Homeowners or renters insurance (sometimes, for hobby use—policy-specific)
• Commercial general liability (CGL) for businesses
• Professional drone/aviation liability policies (common for commercial operators)
• Auto insurance (if the drone caused or contributed to a vehicle crash)
• Umbrella policies (for higher limits)

A key practical point: insurers sometimes try to frame drone injuries as “unusual” and deny coverage quickly. Early investigation into who was operating the drone and why can make a big difference.

Severity and Type of Injuries

Drone accidents can cause a range of injuries—from minor cuts and bruises to broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. The severity of injuries influences the compensation amount.

Drone-related injuries often stem from:

• Loss of control (pilot error, signal loss, interference)
• Mechanical failure (battery/propeller defects, motor failure)
• Flying too close to people (parks, events, neighborhoods)
• Operation near traffic (roads, parking lots, driveways)
• Night flight or poor visibility without proper precautions
• Falling debris (drone parts, payload drops)

Even when a drone doesn’t strike someone directly, it can cause injuries indirectly—like a fall while trying to avoid it, or a car crash caused by distraction.

Deadlines —Statutes of Limitation Still Apply

Drone cases don’t get special timing rules just because the technology is new. Common Georgia deadlines include:

• Personal injury. Generally two years from when the claim accrues
• Property damage. Often four years (depending on the property claim type)

If a drone injury involves a government entity or a public-safety drone operation, additional notice requirements may apply—so it’s important to act quickly.