Hit by a senior chief, what to do about it?

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 22:21:09 -0500

I was in the middle of a crosswalk on base, when I noticed a service member in a utility vehicle had come to a stop at the stop sign opposite of mine. I continued walking as there was no immediate danger of a vehicle, and walked maybe 5 steps more, when I heard the engine rev and, looking to my left, could see it headed right torwards me, while the occupant was looking to his left and not ahead. I yelled "whoah!" and then proceeded to be hit in the right leg by the vhicle. I had been sent airborne to the side and managed to get my left hand onto the ground to keep from hitting my head. getting out of the vehicle, a Senior Chief proceeded to start apologizing a lot and asking if I was okay. He noticed my hand was bleeding a good deal, and took me to go get a first aid kit to gauze my hand, and asked if he could take me to medical. I told him no, that I'd be fine I just had to walk it off. well, I ended up having to go anyways because my leg wouldnt stop jumping, and my right thigh as in a lot of pain. Turns out, I had recieved deep bruising on my right thigh, road rash on my left hand, and now my left shoulder is starting to give me troubles. I've recovered a good deal now, but my leg is still causing me trouble to walk, causing me to limp and my left shoulder is questionable as to its uses at the moment.

I'm not after the guys money, I care nothing for blackmail or sueing him for anything, I just want him to be more careful next time and not rush as much.

What I want to know from my posting this is your thoughts on this occurance and it's results.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 10:31 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 22:31:04 -0500

I keep re-reading this and am stuck on the "looked to my left" and "hit in the right leg" parts. Perhaps a slip of words on your part. As for medical, did they ask you how this happened and if so were the MPs notified (if you gave them an honest answer)? And, why would you bring up blackmail of a Senior Chief? Your post brings all kinds of questions in my head and rings all kinds of NCO bells in me.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 4 at 2015 10:40 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 22:40:57 -0500

Wait, you heard and saw this happening and didn't get the hell out of the way? I mean, SN Private RallyPoint Member, jump onto the hood instead of getting run over brother....luckily it was a slow hit......I bet that don't happen again! And, where the hell did you get that picture, the dang matador has sense enough to step to the side....wait, I am going to get you a cape, but it wont have red on it! Please do not tell your momma how this happened, you will worry her sick!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 5 at 2015 1:07 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:07:14 -0500

I think you should have let the Senior Chief drive you to medical and let them check you out. You would have both been there for the medical staff and MPs to handle the situation normally.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 5 at 2015 1:27 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:27:16 -0500

Am I to understand that you were (for example) traveling North, and that vehicle was traveling West (coming from your right)? You were in the crosswalk. The vehicle stopped, then moved forward? You had time to yell at a vehicle that had previously been stopped, and was now in motion from your right, and it hit you? Hard enough to "throw you into the air"?
I find that one hard to believe, that a vehicle moved from a complete stop and in matter of just a few feet got moving so fast that you were sent airborne...
Were you not looking either?

If it happened like you said, and you were injured, did the Base Police make it out and take an accident report?

And I have to say that the mere mention of Blackmail? What is that all about?

As for my thoughts: Let us assume it happened. You should have gotten Law Enforcement there to take a report, which would then ensure your injuries were documented. Now, you are behind the 8 ball. I do have to say, though, that I do not like the way you wrote this up.

This is why we have to wear reflective belts...

Response by SGT William Howell made Nov 5 at 2015 7:30 AM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 07:30:23 -0500

http://www.stripes.com/tale-of-donkey-borne-ied-gives-dark-laughs-downrange-1.150016

Suck it up Buttercup! I am sure he did not mean it and it is most likely never going to happen again.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 5 at 2015 8:46 AM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 08:46:27 -0500

You should have reported it at the time... The longer you wait, the "perception" is that you are going after him. Even now after all this time, I would still report it...

Response by SrA Jonathan Carbonaro made Nov 5 at 2015 9:38 AM

SrA Jonathan Carbonaro — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 09:38:11 -0500

First Mistake, after he hit you was failing to call the Master at Arms to intervene.
Second Mistake, was not going to medical immediately.
Because you waited to do anything about it. It now becomes a He said She said with a Senior Chief. Senior Enlisted vs. Junior Enlisted, never works well for Junior Enlisted.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 10:20 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 10:20:09 -0500

At this point, if I were you, I'd just suck it up and move on. You made the call about how you wanted to handle it, and you should follow through. I can't see how reporting it now will accomplish anything. Frankly, deep bruising, road rash, and left shoulder "troubles" all sound temporary.

It's good that you're not "after the guys money," and that you're not interested in blackmail or lawsuits, because none of those actions would work out well for you. Shit happens sometimes, and so far as I can tell, the Chief acted appropriately, though as the senior guy he should've erred on the side of caution and reported the incident himself despite your reluctance to.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 5 at 2015 11:13 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:13:03 -0500

Got to watch those Senior Chiefs, I have known many that wanted to hit me. :)

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 12:05 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:05:35 -0500

After you went to medical and they asked what happened an incident report should have been filled out. If that's the case, there will be an investigation of the incident/accident. If you didn't tell medical or truthfully tell them what happened, then there really isn't much more than can be done. Just make sure you get the injuries in your medical record.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Nov 5 at 2015 12:21 PM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:21:30 -0500

First thought is the Rank has ZERO to do with it. Would you look the other way if it had been an Admiral or his wife? People in the military need to understand that there are things that happen that have zero to do with rank. If you was off base and in a car and hit by someone do you ask his rank before you ask for his insurance? No...so why is it different on base? I say its NOT.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 5 at 2015 1:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:20:46 -0500

Always get insurance information. Sometimes some ailments will show up months after the accident.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Nov 5 at 2015 3:22 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:22:44 -0500

SN Private RallyPoint Member - First, the accident should have been immediately reported to the Military Police/DoD Police/Master at Arms. Regulations require it to be reported, especially when an injury occurs. My advice is to report it now.

I had a similar situation happen to me (actually the reverse). When I was in Korea as the MP Brigade Commander and United States Korea Provost Marshal, a runner (female Army E-5) suddenly ran off the sidewalk and directly in front of my car, without looking and without giving me any time to stop before hitting her. I knocked her to the ground with my car. I immediately stopped to render assistance. She was already on her feet, said she was OK, and wanted to simply get on her way. I told her that she was not going to do that and told her to sit down on the curb, as I did not know if she was actually injured or not. I called the Military Police and asked them to also send an ambulance. We all went to the base hospital, where she was treated for abrasions and released. The MP Traffic Accident Investigator, who had obtained statements from the victim, a witness, and me, advised me that he was going to charge her with the accident for stepping in front of my moving car from a sidewalk and not in a cross walk. I said "no way" are you going to charge her and told him to write the report simply stating that I had hit her while she was running. (Imagine the "optics" of the Military Police brigade commander/Provost Marshal hitting a pedestrian and the pedestrian being charged). He wrote the report as instructed. I notified my insurance company and sent them a copy of the report. The nest day, I visited the female soldier at her unit and ensured she was OK. She said she was fine and apologized for the incident. I gave her a copy of the MP Report. Three months later, my insurance company (USAA) informed me that her attorney had contacted them and that they were suing me for injuries. They later settled for $20,000. No good deed goes unpunished... :-)

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 6:22 PM

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 18:22:39 -0500

I would like to say I do apologize and it seems that I did not mention that the incident was reported after it occured that same night, I did go to medical and get checked out, and no, I'm not after his money or anything for something so temporary.
I was bringing up the blackmail thing because it suprised me that so many people on my base would even consider that a "correct" road to go down. I have no intentions to do so.

I had enough time to try and yell and attempt to jump back with my left leg moving first thus he hit my right leg. OOD was notified and I did go to Medical to recieve attention.
once again, my injuries are only temporary and it suprised me to hear some people talk of blackmail, That is not the kind of man I am or will ever be.

Response by TSgt David Blakley made Nov 5 at 2015 6:29 PM

TSgt David Blakley — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 18:29:17 -0500

Let's get this straight. You said (quoted from above without corrections) "looking to my left, could see it headed right torwards me" THEN you said "then proceeded to be hit in the right leg by the vhicle" My question to you is how could your RIGHT leg be injured if the vehicle was traveling from your LEFT? Just an observation of your story.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2015 1:04 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 01:04:26 -0500

You got hurt when you were hit by a car and refused medical treatment at the time and it sounds like you didn't get his info. Now that you are have issues because of it you want to track him down but don't want anything from him other than for him to be more careful. Not really sure what you are asking here.