Game of drones: Liability and insurance coverage issues coming

If the Night’s Watch had been able to purchase a cheap camera-equipped drone, Jon Snow might have noticed the Night’s King and his army of White Walkers before they surprised and overran the Wildings’ camp in Season 5 of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

Originally a tool developed exclusively for military operations, drones now hover at the horizon of widespread commercial application. Drones delivering online purchases and monitoring traffic are yesterday’s news; small and large businesses are now exploring the feasibility of using drones for such varied tasks as providing emergent medical services, waiting tables, providing wireless internet access, and inspecting industrial sites. This explosion of drone use brings with it a plethora of new liability exposures and insurance coverage issues.