The skies are becoming a bit more crowded as the popularity ofdronescontinues to expand nationwide. Photographers, kids andentrepreneurs alike are becoming drone enthusiasts.

See also: 10 risks and misuses for drones

Also rising are the number of accidents and issues of liabilityif someone or someone else's property is hurt or damaged by theseunmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.

"There have already been enough incidents and near-misses todate … to generate concern that the likelihood of collisions andother loss events will grow as numbers multiply," says James VanMeter, an aviation practice leader at Allianz Global Corporate& Specialty.

Drones go mainstream

It's easy to pinpoint the reason behind the recent spike indrone popularity — they've become smaller and cheaper.

Online searches show basic drones starting at just $20. TheseUAVs also have become easier to use, especially if you use yoursmartphone to aid navigation.

Related: Who's allowed to shoot at drones?

So, just how popular are drones in this country?

The FAA says more than 600,000 UAV are used for commercial usealone and close to 2 million for recreational use.

That's a lot of flying objects. And a lot of potential dangersthat may require some form of insurance.

What are the risks?

If you're wondering if you need insurance, then ask yourself ifyou are just a hobbyist who only flies drones in the backyard, aphotographer who wants to capture soaring vistas, or a businessperson looking to grow your company.

Insurance is not required for recreational drone use. So you're probably fineif you limit your flying time to the backyard or empty field acrossthe street. Because many drones fall under the $100 price, many ofthese UAVs are flown just for fun.

Matthew Henshon, a Boston-based attorney and personal droneenthusiast, draws a valid distinction between recreational droneusers like himself and commercial drone users who are bound by FAAregulations that often require insurance.

"Recreational drone users have much more wiggle room andtherefore must evaluate their own comfort level with risk whenconsidering insurance," he says.

Still, you might want to use caution. Your current homeowners orrenters insurance policy might not cover the costs of damages ifyour drone crashes or violates a person's right to privacy.

Why? Insurers are allowed to exclude drone coverage becausethese UAVs are considered "small aircraft" by the Federal AviationAdministration.

Even if your insurance covers damage caused by your drone, itwon't be covered in the event of theft or total loss (imagine acrash landing going really bad).

Enter drone insurance

This specific type of insurance is new to the industry, soexpect it to be rapidly changing.

"Whether you run a coffee shop or a truck delivery business youneed insurance to run your business. Drones are no different," VanMeter explains. "Most commercial operators of UAVs will require atleast $1 million of insurance coverage to protect against riskexposures."

But back to hobbyists. You probably won't need anything close to$1 million in coverage, which is good news because you have plentyof non-traditional options that will fit into almost anybudget.

Several organizations created for drone enthusiasts offer insurance coverage. TheAcademy of Model Aeronautics, for example, provides drone insurancewith a valid membership. The coverage usually includes $2.5 millionof personal liability, $25,000 in medical coverage, $10,000 inaccidental death and up to $1,000 for drones that are stolen ordamaged by fire or crash-landings.

If you really want to take your drone insurance into the21^st century, then you can purchase anon-demand policy — such as those offeredby Verifly — with an app on your phone. The bestpart about this is you can purchase the policy by the hour, whichcan provide you coverage only when your drone is in operation.

Regardless of the insurance route you go, start first byinvestigating what drone activities are already covered by yourexisting policies. If you don't need any additional policies, thenyou'll instantly be ready for takeoff.

Jason Hargraves is the managing editor of netQuote where heoversees content on a variety of consumer-friendly insurancetopics. He can be reached by sending email to [email protected].

See also:

10 steps to mitigating drone risks on constructionsites

5 things insurers need to know before usingdrones

Don't shoot that drone!