Chaser Tag Along Liability

[Bill Tabor]

I'm always getting requests from people that want to pay to go along or tag along behind me in a separate vehicle. I suppose this is a similar scenario as the Chase Tours have to deal with. What kind of liability are we talking about here if something happens to one of these "tag alongs"? Liability is one reason I never considered creating or being part of a Chase Tour. Would a signed liability release form protect me or a chase tour group if they have paying passengers or tag alongs? Do any of you have any already created release forms you'd be interested in sharing? What do you do with tag along requests?

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I can't offer much in the way of advice or commentary, but I will point you to the recent thread on this topic --> see Chasing Liabilities

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Unless the person wanting to go is a storm chaser, I say no. The person wanting to go may have no idea what storm chasing is actually like, they might get bored by the long drive and start whining, they might actually get scared in the heat of the moment and freak out. I simply don't want to risk dealing with those types of things when I'm out storm chasing.

To me storm chasing is like my vacation, I don't want someone coming with me that isn't also a storm chaser.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Yeah but what if they say they are a beginning storm chaser? I always feel for all these people out there that want to learn and experience severe weather. It is also fun being around people when they experience their first tornadoes or severe storm - that sort of thing.

That's a good point about them wigging out. I could see a tag along following and then at a crucial moment getting scared and turning around in panic with that being a major mistake.

 

[Bill Tabor]

I can't offer much in the way of advice or commentary, but I will point you to the recent thread on this topic --> see Chasing Liabilities

Thanks Jeff, I didn't see that thread previously.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Another good question here is has anyone ever been sued yet or anything similar related to this type of activity?

 

[Dan Robinson]

While it is fun to run a caravan, it is hard to stay together once you're on a storm. There are a lot of logistical and safety issues with trying to have multiple vehicles pulling over and turning at the same spot. You can get easily separated at stop signs, traffic lights and while passing vehicles on 2-lane roads. If the other vehicle does not have good communications with you, and the other driver is not experienced, leaving them on their own if separated would put them in a bad situation. The burden of making sure the other vehicle doesn't get separated, and letting them catch up if they do, makes for a high chance of either missing the tornadoes or getting them into a dangerous situation. It's just yet another thing to worry about in an already stressful multitasking situation.

As much as I'd like to have someone tag along in another car, it is too much of a potential burden and I don't do it anymore. If I do take someone along, they need to ride with me.

I still caravan with other experienced chasers from time to time, but if we get separated during a storm, it's no big deal. We just do our own thing separately and catch up after everything's done. It's too hard to stay together, and there's really no reason to if each of us knows what we are doing.

 

[Amos Magliocco]

I still caravan with other experienced chasers from time to time, but if we get separated during a storm, it's no big deal. We just do our own thing separately and catch up after everything's done. It's too hard to stay together, and there's really no reason to if each of us knows what we are doing.

Dan is right on the money. An issue with caravans is if any one participant gets the idea that he or she is in charge, or takes offense when others don't want to go to his target or follow his orders. Chasers are pretty independent minded. I've been around one or two in caravans who thought the Lady of the Lake had handed them a sword. They can get snippy in person but they're usually snippier on their blogs.

It's better when everybody respects each other's independence and the whole group can reconvene later to celebrate various angles and catches.

 

[Bob Schafer]

What about nowcasting? I suppose a chaser could try to hold a nowcaster responsible for inaccurate or incomplete information in case of something bad happening.

Don't worry, "my" guys and gal, I'm not worried that you'd do that to me. But still, umm, I will not be held responsible!! LOL (Great disclaimer, huh?)

 

[Jordan Hartley]

I could be considered a "tag along". The last 2 chases ive been on I followed Mike Gribble. My situation is kinda funny in the sense, I'm going to chase regardless but to me I feel alot better chasing with someone with equipment and experience that I can learn from rather than just hitting it on my own until I figure it out. Im only 21 and already got a family so going out and buying a bunch of equipment would be stupid right now. My plan is to build up over time but in the mean time I still need the experience and doing it on my own is more "dangerous" than "tagging along". And if something were to happen it would be my fault, not his. There are a couple of rules I know not to break while im out chasing with Mike, dont wreck my car, dont get in the way, dont let my guard down. Not everyone new to storm chasing is a complete dumbass who doesnt know what there doing. Ive tried to be humble in my approach with mike, I dont have years of storm chasing under my belt like him so at times ill try to come across as someone who doesnt know alot so that I dont seem like some punk know it all. But in reality I do know whats going on in the heat of battle. My weakness is forcasting which will come with time. You know I dont know where I would fit into this topic cause this is the first year ive been on more than one chase but it aint like I dont know what im doing, yet im still "tagging along" cause i aint got equipment yet.

Now about falling behind this happened to me on 5-5. I ended up loosing Mike twice. The second time I would have been able to meet up with Mike but in order to do so I would have had to core punch the storm that was going tornadic(Big no no for me) so instead I choose(with help from my nowcaster) the storm to my sw which put me in perfect position for the Pawnee Rock tornado. I stayed 4 miles east of the storm the entire time and still got to bag one. Even though it paid off it might not the next time and I know not to fall behind when following Mike from now on cause like Mike said once u fall behind its hard to catch back up. Ah lesson's learned...

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Yeah but what if they say they are a beginning storm chaser?

Now I don't mind having someone that is a newcomer to storm chasing coming with me. If someone has a true interest in wanting to get into storm chasing, then I have to assume they've at least have some understanding what goes on within a thunderstorm and what to expect.

 

[Shane Hale]

Hey Bill,
Our team doesn't allow tag along's, however if there is a chaser in training or interested in chasing then we do allow them to ride with one of us and we keep an extra safe distance.

 

[Shane Adams]

This is an issue I've really not had to deal with much, but here's my take on it....

I admire a newbie for wanting guidence, wanting to learn from someone more experienced, whatever....but I have much more respect for the newbies that just get out there and do it. Safety is always a concern that's voiced when the subject of new chasers going out on their own is raised, but anyone with half a brain has a "survival" element in their mind; i.e., they can sense danger and know when to back off. Chasing cannot be learned by following, period. You can chase with the most amazing veteran for 10 years, and you might pick up some stuff....but you'll never develop a true style unless you chase alone, or at least with others who are of equal experience (or inexperience).

Maybe to some "doing it yourself" isn't important compared to "being responsible and safe", but for me, I never wanted to be a "light" version of whatever veteran I chose to follow...I wanted to suceed or fail on my own terms, by my own decisions. I've had offers from big-name vets to do chases for years now, and I always say "yah that'd be cool" but never follow through.....what could I possibly bring to the table with a 25-30 year vet chaser that he/she doesn't already know??? I've never wanted to just "be along for the ride", which is what newbies who take guidence are...or what I'd be with a 25-year veteran....as angry as that may make some of you. Still the truth.

So naturally (getting back on topic) I discourage anyone from following us or whatever. As far as being liable, you can't control what another person does....if someone follows you and gets hurt, that's their problem.

 

[Lori Meyer]

I can't see how there would be any liability if someone is simply following you. I have gone out on my own; however, I don't feel that at this point I am educated enough, nor do I have the time (in nursing school) to fully educate myself on chasing responsibly. I plan to follow along a veteran this summer so that I can still witness the wonder of nature without putting myself in danger b/c of a lack of education. I have no lack of love or respect for the storms... I just would rather take a safer option until I can commit more time to learning the logistics. I am so very excited and I can't wait to go out for the first time this season and actually be with someone that knows a lot more than I. Thank you to all that are willing to help out those of us that truly admire what you do and all that you know.

IMO, it's fun to teach and even more fun to learn.

 

[Stan Rose]

Being an ex-lawyer, i naturally thought about liability issue when we ran our tours a few years back. Rather then recreate the 'book', we borrowed the basic format of several established companies' forms, then added our own take on them. Basically, we made people acknowlege every conceivable risk and acknowlege they understood what they were getting into, plus the usual things like referral to arbitration, waiver of jury trial etc. The bottom line is that these forms are important to spell things out, but you can't have someone sign away their right to sue you if you do something negligent. So, for example, if someone's following you and you decide for kicks you're gonna play chicken with an EF-3, and that person follows you and gets hurt, you're in trouble no matter how many forms they signed. Also, if someone gets hurt or suffers damage, they obviously may decide to sue you regardless of the merits of their claim. There's no way to prevent that, so it's something to at least consider if you are taking people chasing with you.