A method and apparatus provides for call recovery in a wireless communication system (10). When the communication link between a mobile station (38) and a base station (32) is in trouble, the mobile station and the infrastructure prearrange potential call recovery operations. A trigger often initiates a call recovery operation, wherein the trigger indicates when a parameter or metric passes a threshold. These thresholds may be dynamic, adapting to conditions of the system (10) and environment, and the thresholds may be adjusted based on a history or statistical record of operation of the system (10).