No good deed goes unpunished
We have all heard the saying that no good deed goes unpunished.
As members of the Jeep and of Offroad communities, our instincts are to lend assistance to stranded vehicles that we may encounter along our path, especially if they are stuck offroad.
Maybe they attempted more than their vehicle could handle, or they just got stuck in some sand, mud, or snow. Perhaps even worse than that, and they got themselves high centered on an obstacle, or partway down an embankment or ditch.
Our vehicles are well equipped for offroad situations. You have recovery gear, probably even a winch.
Should you stop and recover?
Of course you should stop and check on them! We don’t know how long they have been out here, or what their physical condition is.
Offer water, food, clothing if necessary. If there is a trained first responder in your trail group, even better. Physical well being is priority number one.
Assuming that everybody is fine, then let’s assess what it will take to get their car back on the road.
But you have all that recovery gear and a winch! And want to pull them out.
This is where YOU have to tread carefully!
Sure, the stranded driver is enthusiastic about you getting them back on the road. That enthusiasm might turn into malice if you are unsuccessful, or if their vehicle becomes damaged. Even lightly scratched. Maybe their vehicle was already damaged from when they got stuck.
For this reason, it is imperative that you ask them to sign a liability (hold harmless) waiver before you attempt to recover them. If you do not have a blank waiver in your kit, then video their consent with emphasis that any attempted recovery is totally at their own risk. Explain that you are not a certified mechanic nor a recovery professional.
But they seem like nice people. Fellow offroaders, or friendly tourists. Grateful to be rescued.
And 95% of the time, they are truly good folk. Just like us.
They may not be the problem. Their brother-in-law back home who is an attorney might be more greedy than nice. Or their insurance company seeks reimbursement for their claim.
Although there are legal protections for good Samaritans who render lifesaving first aid, there are no such protections for roadside vehicle recovery.
If you break it, you buy it. If it was broken before you even touched it, you could still be held liable. Take plenty of pictures before and after. Document the names of witnesses if you are part of a group.
Are the conditions right for you to even attempt recovery?
Usually, they are just stuck in soft terrain and only need a kinetic tug or a little bit of winching. First though, try airing down their tires to increase traction. Dig out around the tires, and place some traction boards. That often is all that’s necessary, unless they are seriously stuck.
Before you can try a tug or winch, determine if the stranded vehicle is equipped with sturdy recovery points. Jeeps and offroad vehicles have prominent shackles or recovery hooks, but “civilian” cars, including AWD’s may not be so equipped. Do not assume that those eye-hooks that screw into secret panels in the bumper are strong enough to withstand a kinetic yank; or even powerful winching. Make sure that the stranded driver acknowledges the potential for damage.
If the stuck vehicle has a factory towing hitch, then you could use a receiver hitch shackle for a recovery point – providing that you can recover from that direction.
When in doubt, the trained recovery teams will attach a bridle or tree strap to a secure part of the chassis, or around an axle. If you are a mechanic and familiar with undercarriage anatomy, you could try that. But if you haven’t spent a lot of time underneath cars – I don’t advise experimenting on a stranger’s vehicle. You do not want to be responsible for tearing something up.
Sometimes the best way to help out a stranded motorist might be to use your satellite communicator and to contact local emergency services. Or give them a ride back to town.
“The temptation to help is strong. But in today’s litigious society, you really need to be extremely cautious. ”
