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Sacramento Drone Accident Attorney

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Attorney Michael Rehm - (916) 233-7346

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — commonly called drones — operate throughout the Sacramento region for real estate photography, agricultural monitoring, infrastructure inspection, news gathering, and recreational flight. When a drone causes injury — by striking a person, crashing into a vehicle, or failing over a crowd — the legal framework involves FAA regulations, California tort law, and product liability doctrine. Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured by drones throughout Sacramento County and Northern California.

Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. The California-level framework is on the California aviation accident attorney page.

FAA Regulatory Framework

The FAA classifies drone operations under 14 C.F.R. Part 107 (small UAS operations). Part 107 requires remote pilots to: maintain visual line of sight; yield right-of-way to manned aircraft; not fly over moving vehicles or people without a waiver; not fly in controlled airspace without authorization; and not fly at night without waiver. Violation of any Part 107 requirement that causes injury supports a negligence per se claim under California Evidence Code section 669. Recreational operators must follow FAA safety guidelines under 49 U.S.C. § 44809.

Sacramento Airspace

Sacramento sits within Class B airspace for Sacramento International Airport (KSMF) and Class D airspace for Sacramento Executive Airport (KSAC) and Mather Airport (KMHR). Drone operators flying near these airports without FAA authorization via the LAANC system violate Part 107 airspace requirements. The Sacramento region also includes restricted airspace over the State Capitol and other sensitive infrastructure. An operator who flies into restricted or controlled airspace without authorization and causes injury has committed a regulatory violation that is per se unreasonable.

Operator and Owner Liability

California negligence law holds a drone operator liable for injuries caused by negligent operation. Where the drone is owned by an employer or principal and the operator was acting within the scope of employment or agency, the owner bears vicarious liability. Commercial operators — those earning compensation for flights — must hold a Part 107 remote pilot certificate; operating commercially without certification is an independent regulatory violation.

Product Liability

Where a drone crash results from a manufacturing defect, design defect, or warning failure, the manufacturer is strictly liable under Greenman v. Yuba Power Products, Inc. (1963) 59 Cal.2d 57. Drone manufacturers have faced product liability claims arising from flyaway events, propeller failures, battery fires, and GPS signal failures. California strict products liability does not require proof of negligence — only that the product was defective and the defect caused the injury.

Damages and Statute of Limitations

Drone accident victims can recover past and future medical expenses, lost income and impaired earning capacity, and noneconomic damages for pain, suffering, and disfigurement. The statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit — tolling doctrines may apply depending on the facts. Where a government agency owns or operated the drone, a government tort claim under Government Code section 912.2 must be filed within six months of the incident.

Related Pages

Attorney Michael Rehm represents drone accident victims throughout Sacramento County and Northern California on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (916) 233-7346 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

Southern California Areas Served:

Phone: (619) 787-3456 Areas Served: San Diego, Vista, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, San Marcos, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, El Centro, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, Torrance, Pasadena, El Monte, Downey, West Covina, Norwalk, Burbank, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Temecula, Bakersfield, Clovis, and everywhere in between.

Bay Area Areas Served

Phone: (831) 431-0986 Areas Served: Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Watsonville, Salinas, Monterey, Seaside, Carmel, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Livermore, Concord, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Antioch, San Rafael, Novato, San Jose, Morgan Hill, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Napa, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Fairfield, Vallejo, Vacaville, Dixon, Solano County, San Benito, Daly City, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos, San Bruno, Pleasanton, Union City, San Leandro, Milpitas, Pittsburg, Danville, Rohnert Park and the entire Bay Area.

Northern California Office & Areas Served

2121 Broadway Unit 188860 Sacramento, CA 95818 Phone: (916) 233-7346 Areas Served: Sacramento, Elk Grove, Antelope, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, the friendly confines of Land Park, Folsom, Yolo, Woodland, West Sacramento, Davis, Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Auburn, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Yuba City, Marysville, Wheatland, Colusa, San Joaquin County, Lodi, Manteca, Stockton, Tracy, Lathrop, Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Stanislaus County, Humboldt County, Arcata, Mckinleyville, Fortuna, Eureka, Butte County, Oroville, Paradise, Chico, Mendocino, Ukiah, Colusa, Shasta County, Redding, Calaveras, Yreka, Amador, Jackson, Lassen, Susanville, Plumas County, Quincy, Nevada County, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Truckee, Lakeport, Sonora, Madera, Crescent City, Trinity, and all of Northern California.

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