What Should You Know About Drone Accidents
As the crowd gathered to watch a holiday synchronized drone show over Lake Eola, no one imagined that the festivities would end in tragedy. But several drones wound up crashing into one another and then falling into the crowd. There were several minor injuries among spectators, but one 7-year old spent more than a week in the ICU at a local hospital after undergoing emergency open heart surgery.
What is a Drone?
Drones are basically robots that fly. They are either directed by remote control, or they have flight plans embedded within their systems controlled by software working in tandem with GPS and sensors. They operate with power sources such as batteries or fuel, and generally have propellers, rotors, and/or wings. They always have controllers that operators can use remotely to launch, navigate and land using Wi-Fi. While they may have various uses ranging from traffic and weather monitoring to surveillance and delivery services, the Finalists on the popular America’s Got Talent show, a company named Sky Elements, was running the visual display.
Drone Laws
An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) resulted in the suspension of Sky Element’s Part 107 waiver, which previously allowed operators to fly their drones over vehicles and people under the condition that they could fly safely. The company cancelled other planned New Year’s shows in Texas and New York, instead reviewing their protocols and searching for an explanation for the incident in Florida.
Possible Explanations for the Accident
According to one drone expert who formerly specialized in the matter for the FBI, even though drones are lightweight, one falling from 100 feet up could easily result in injury or death when striking someone. He believed the Lake Eola accident could be a result of a couple of factors:
- A single drone may have lost Wi-Fi contact, impacting GPS or situational awareness and causing it to crash into others;
- Weather issues may have impacted functionality.
Recourse Following an Accident
When accidents like this one occur, victims and their families may wonder what recourse they have against those responsible. Depending on the circumstances, a personal injury lawsuit may be a vehicle to retrieve money to address the physical and emotional pain caused through negligence or recklessness. That means sufferers could be reimbursed for their medical bills, counseling, therapies, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A thorough investigation would have to demonstrate that the drone operator negligently failed to provide the safety owed to the victim for a successful case.
Advocating for You
The experienced and dedicated Kissimmee personal injury attorneys at Salazar & Kelly Law Group always fight for the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our Kissimmee office today.
Source:
techtarget.com/iotagenda/definition/drone
