FAQs

What Is Mudding?

Mudding is an activity that occurs in rural areas where individuals take an all-terrain vehicle, like an SUV or truck, and go into a wetland area to “race” around in the vehicle. They wetland area includes field, streams, or lakebeds. When individuals are mudding in the area, they turn left and right, spinning their tires and throwing mud everywhere. The ground where the mudding occurs gets ripped up, making deep holes that the vehicle could possible get stuck in.

Mudding itself is not illegal, but there are laws that affect mudding in certain areas. People may not go mudding on state or federal property as monetary fines are a result. They may also receive trespassing charges if mudding on someone else’s land without permission. Reckless driving citations are also a possibility as well.

Two of the major consequences of mudding are serious injuries or death, which can result in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.

For example, when taking a pickup truck mudding, people often sit in the bed of the pickup truck as it spins around in the wetland area. This is a form of entertainment, as it is like an extreme “ride” for the participants. But, this can also result in serious injuries, and in some cases, death. The riders are not restrained in any way and could possible fall out of the truck, get injured while being thrashed around in the truck, or cause injury to one another when thrown every which way.

A prime example of the dangers of mudding is Shain Gandee from the MTV reality show, Buckwild. The show filmed young adults from West Virginia who when mudding on regular occasions. In April 2013, Gandee was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning while mudding when his truck was trapped in the mud. This came as a surprise to many, but when taking a step back and looking at the dangers of mudding, it seems very probable.

While mudding may seem fun, it is very dangerous and can end in broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries. If you have any further questions about mudding and the legal consequences it has, call our office at 800.637.8170.