I was getting the “perfect” cinematic orbit shot of the couple when a sudden gust of wind—or maybe a sensor glitch—sent my Mavic 3 Pro straight into the bride’s face. The props sliced her cheek open, blood dripped onto her white dress, and the ceremony stopped dead in a screaming panic. Two weeks later, I was served with a lawsuit for $150,000 covering plastic surgery, emotional distress, and the cost of the entire “ruined” wedding.
Key Takeaways
- Commercial Exclusion: If you were paid (or even hoping to use the footage for a portfolio), your Homeowners insurance will deny this claim instantly. You need Commercial Aviation Liability.
- Medical Payments (MedPay): A good drone policy includes MedPay, which covers immediate ER bills (
5k−5k−10k) regardless of fault. This often stops a lawsuit before it starts. - “Loss of Use” Claims: You aren’t just liable for the injury; you are liable for the “ruined event.” General Liability covers this consequential damage.
- On-Demand vs. Annual: For a single wedding, “On-Demand” insurance is cheaper, but ensure the limit is high enough ($1M minimum) to cover a surgical settlement.
The “Why” (The Trap): The “Bodily Injury” Limit
The trap here is underinsuring for Bodily Injury.
Many pilots buy a $500,000 liability policy thinking, “That covers a lot of damage.”
In 2026, facial reconstruction surgery alone can hit $50,000. Add “Pain and Suffering” and the cost of re-staging a wedding, and you blow past $500k easily.
Furthermore, standard General Liability policies often exclude “Aircraft,” meaning you need a specific “Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)” policy. A regular business policy does nothing here.
The Investigation: “I Called Them”
I compared coverage for a wedding disaster scenario.
1. SkyWatch (On-Demand)
- The Test: I quoted a $2M liability policy for 4 hours.
- The Result: Cost was ~$40.
- Pros: Instant MedPay included.
- Cons: If the lawsuit drags on for years, you need to ensure the “Claims Made” vs “Occurrence” language covers you after the policy expires. (SkyWatch is usually “Occurrence,” which is good).
2. Verifly (Thimble)
- The Test: Quoted 1 hour coverage.
- The Result: Very cheap ($15), but limits capped at $1M or $2.5M.
- Pros: Great for the pilot doing a quick shot.
- Cons: Stricter exclusions on flying over crowds (which a wedding technically is).
3. Global Aerospace (Annual Policy)
- The Test: Full annual commercial policy.
- The Result: $700/year.
- Pros: Includes “Personal Injury” (Privacy) and robust defense costs outside the limit. This is what you want if you do weddings every weekend.
Comparison Table: Wedding Liability Options
| Feature | SkyWatch (Hourly) | Verifly (Hourly) | Global Aerospace (Annual) |
| Liability Limit | Up to $5M | Up to $2.5M | Up to $5M+ |
| MedPay (Immediate) | Included | Included | Included |
| Flying Over People | Covered (If compliant) | Strict | Covered (Standard) |
| Cost | ~$15/hr | ~$10/hr | ~$700/yr |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Stop Flying Immediately: Do not try to land and take off again. Ground the bird.
- Offer First Aid, Not Admissions: Help the bride, call 911. Do NOT say “I’m sorry, I messed up.” Say “Let’s get you help.” Admissions of guilt can void insurance defense.
- Report to Insurer Instantly: Open the app (SkyWatch/Verifly) and hit “File Claim” while you are still on site. Take photos of the drone logs (to prove no reckless flying).
- Preserve the Logs: Do not delete the flight log. Your insurer will need it to prove it was wind/sensor failure (accident) and not you dive-bombing them (recklessness).
FAQ
Q: Can they sue me for the cost of the reception?
A: Yes. It’s called “Loss of Enjoyment” or “Consequential Damages.” If the event was stopped because of your drone, you are liable for the wasted money.
Q: Does the venue’s insurance cover me?
A: No. The venue protects themselves. They will likely sue you too for damaging their reputation.
[IMAGE: Diagram showing “Drone Impact Zone” on a person and the corresponding insurance coverages: Medical Bills (MedPay), Lawsuit (Liability).]