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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think it was not an overreaction to call the police?

589 replies

hottubwhocares · 26/04/2025 17:12

We were out today at a family event. We were parked up in the car park of the venue and were getting in our cars to travel home. There was a man parked next to us in the (relatively narrow) bays, window down, chatting to his girlfriend. He was there when we came out and approached our car.

DD age 8 was getting into the back passenger side of our car, so on the same side as his car. I was on the other/driver’s side. As I was getting in, I heard DD start to scream. Basically the man next to us had started to move his car forward and his back wheel had run over the back of her ankle/foot.

I immediately ran round the back of the car, picked her up, helped her into the back seat and took her shoe and sock off to have a look. The top layer of skin had come off and it looked bruised so I went round to his car, said sorry, I think you have hurt her so I am going to need your details.

He and his girlfriend then said ‘Why? I haven’t done anything wrong’. I asked if he was refusing and he said he ‘didn’t even know what happened’ and started mouthing off.

So, I called 999 and of course the second he heard I was on the phone to the police, he started offering his details.

Two police cars then attended. DH is furious with me and says I completely overreacted as DD’s injury was minor (scrapes and bruises) and I ‘see the worst in everyone’. I am very upset about his lack of support when our child was hurt and upset.

FWIW I would never move my own car when a child was down the side and if I had ever done anything like this I certainly wouldn’t be mouthing off at the parent of the injured child!

So, was it an overreaction to call the police?

OP posts:
UpUpUpU · 26/04/2025 18:24

Was your husband there OP? Why was he not supervising your child getting in the car? Did he just jump in and leave a small child to potentially open the door into another car?

Sherararara · 26/04/2025 18:24

YourSnugHazelTraybake · 26/04/2025 18:22

Why on earth do you think an ambulance would be delayed by op calling the police? You do realise that 999 calls are triaged to the appropriate service don't you? What a ridiculous post.

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The 999 operator dealing with OP can’t be dealing with another caller at the same time who needs the ambulance. One operator can only take one call at one time. Got it?

Original poster
hottubwhocares · 26/04/2025 18:23

BoundaryGirl3939 · 26/04/2025 18:18

Both he and his girlfriend seemed to be confused, and were unaware that anything had take place. So I personally would give them the benefit of the doubt.
I wouldn't have approached their car all guns blazing. I would have explained that they had accidentally run over her foot (which was fine in the end), and allowed them to assess what was going on by viewing her foot. It also doesn't appear that he tried to flee the scene so I assume he was confused.
I get the vibe that you went on the attack straight away which meant the driver went on the defense. I know I shut down if I feel I'm being attacked out of nowhere.
Perhaps the police came because they thought the matter was far more serious than it actually was, and presumed your daughters foot was mangled.

He definitely knew he had hit her as he was less than two feet away, window down, and she screamed in an alarming way as he ran over her Sad

OP posts:
SoulMole · 26/04/2025 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WearyAuldWumman · 26/04/2025 18:22

hottubwhocares · 26/04/2025 17:22

He was mouthing off by saying he hadn’t done anything, when he had clearly run over her foot.

When the police arrived they took him to their police car then went to look at the CCTV footage so I’m not sure what happened after that (we left as DD was very upset and it wasn’t helping her calm down)

But yes, it was only the police call that made him finally offer his details. He wasn’t exactly contrite!

Not an overreaction, in my view. The non-emergency number would not have brought out the police straight away and the driver could have got away.

MeganM3 · 26/04/2025 18:22

I’d have called the police too. He drove the car that injured a child and was not going to provide details. A child was hurt by a car.. it’s ok to call police.

YourSnugHazelTraybake · 26/04/2025 18:22

Sherararara · 26/04/2025 18:07

Yes except you’ve just taken an emergency call slot from someone else with a genuine emergency resulting in in an ambulance being 30 secs late and someone dying. Because OPs daughter’s foot got a bit hurt.

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Why on earth do you think an ambulance would be delayed by op calling the police? You do realise that 999 calls are triaged to the appropriate service don't you? What a ridiculous post.

Riaanna · 26/04/2025 18:22

Above said I wouldn’t have rung 999. I would have taken down his number plate. If you’re busy rowing with him she wasn’t that injured.

Original poster
hottubwhocares · 26/04/2025 18:21

I felt it was a crime in progress which I thought I was justified in calling 999 for. DH didn’t and obviously plenty on here don’t. Not so easy to be chill when your own child is screaming because her foot has been run over though.

I don’t know what if anything the police did with him, he showed his licence then seemed to be saying something about his address (so assume the address on the licence didn’t match his address) and they took him off to the police car!

OP posts:
Sherararara · 26/04/2025 18:21

hottubwhocares · 26/04/2025 18:11

Highway Code 286:

If you are involved in a collision which causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property, you MUST

stop. If possible, stop in a place of relative safety (see Rule 27

give your own and the vehicle owner’s name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle, to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them

if you do not give your name and address at the time of the collision, report it to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours.

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Does the HW code say call 999 if they don’t give their details?

Riaanna · 26/04/2025 18:21

hottubwhocares · 26/04/2025 17:24

Because the law says that if you cause injury in a car accident then the police should be called? As opposed to a collision with no injuries which is a civil matter

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Actually that isn’t what it says. What it says is that you must always notify the police unless not serious / no one injured / swapped details. There’s no differentiation between civil / criminal based on injury.

ginasevern · 26/04/2025 18:19

You did the right thing OP. If nothing else, it might stop this cocky little sod from being so cavalier in future. Anyone decent would've apologised profusely and handed over their details. Hopefully he's learned a lesson. As for your DH, he probably didn't want to lose face in front of another man.

myplace · 26/04/2025 18:18

PrincessOfPreschool · 26/04/2025 18:07

I think I would be the same as the DH. It's not a fear of causing a fuss, but wanting to be given grace if I made a mistake. It wasn't a life threatening issue. Was there even any blood? Yes, it could have been bad, but there are plenty of close scrapes on the road all the time (someone didn't stop at a roundabout the other day and would have gone straight into me if I hadn't braked sharply. I didn't call the police).

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y don’t necessarily know how badly a child is injured at first. It takes time for them to calm enough for you to assess it.

And I would not be giving grace to a man who swears and tries to drive off without checking the person he’s injured is ok.

If he’s knocked someone off a bike would it be ok to just drive off?

ScribblingPixie · 26/04/2025 18:18

I don't think you overreacted at all, OP.

BoundaryGirl3939 · 26/04/2025 18:18

Both he and his girlfriend seemed to be confused, and were unaware that anything had take place. So I personally would give them the benefit of the doubt.
I wouldn't have approached their car all guns blazing. I would have explained that they had accidentally run over her foot (which was fine in the end), and allowed them to assess what was going on by viewing her foot. It also doesn't appear that he tried to flee the scene so I assume he was confused.
I get the vibe that you went on the attack straight away which meant the driver went on the defense. I know I shut down if I feel I'm being attacked out of nowhere.
Perhaps the police came because they thought the matter was far more serious than it actually was, and presumed your daughters foot was mangled.

Sherararara · 26/04/2025 18:16

millymoo1202 · 26/04/2025 18:11

I can’t believe people are saying it’s not an emergency! He ran over her foot, I asaume
police breathalysers him etc?

How is it an emergency? Is someone’s life at risk? Is there imminent danger to property? Is someone a danger to themselves or others?
what exactly is your definition of an emergency?

Blossombeanie · 26/04/2025 18:14

EveryDayisFriday · 26/04/2025 18:08

I think you overreacted. He didn't intentionally injure your child. Your child had her foot in the way of a moving car which was extremely dangerous, she should know better at 8.

Her foot was in the way of the car? Lol. Are you a driver? Rule number one: don’t move off until you’ve checked no hazards in the way. Eg: small child easily viewed through side mirror.

Sodthesystem · 26/04/2025 18:14

harriethoyle · 26/04/2025 18:13

He RAN OVER a child’s foot. In what way is OP at fault?! 🙄

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Dunno, I wasn't there. Maybe she was being a kid and farting about and stuck her leg out behind her or something. Kids are menaces.

Hellodarknessmyoldfrien · 26/04/2025 18:14

You were completely right to call 999.
I hope your daughter heals soon.

harriethoyle · 26/04/2025 18:13

Sodthesystem · 26/04/2025 18:11

Shit like that is why I wouldn't give my details. Always some asshole out there that would do this.

And chances are it was their kid at fault not the driver. Maybe op should be sued for not watching her child and ruining his day?

Or we could all just be adults and chalk it up to shit happens, apologise and go out seperate ways.

Show quote history

He RAN OVER a child’s foot. In what way is OP at fault?! 🙄

Skepticalsausage · 26/04/2025 18:12

BethDuttonYeHaw · 26/04/2025 17:23

YANBU to call the police

YABU to call 999

non emergency number was appropriate. 999 was completely wrong.

This

Superhansrantowindsor · 26/04/2025 18:12

You have to take some blame. The bay was narrow. You knew he was getting ready to leave or at least potentially would have since he was sat in drivers seat and you didn’t supervise your child.
having said that he was going to leave so I can understand why you called the police.

ElfAndSafetyBored · 26/04/2025 18:11

Child run over. Car actually driving on a part of a child. Definitely a police matter.

Jesus Christ. Some of the posters here freak me out. I bet they’d be calling the police if a car as much as brushed them.

Sodthesystem · 26/04/2025 18:11

harriethoyle · 26/04/2025 18:07

I don’t think you overreacted at all. I’d also suggest you get DD medical treatment and consider a personal injury claim. Might make him a bit more careful in future and avoid something much worse happening.

Shit like that is why I wouldn't give my details. Always some asshole out there that would do this.

And chances are it was their kid at fault not the driver. Maybe op should be sued for not watching her child and ruining his day?

Or we could all just be adults and chalk it up to shit happens, apologise and go out seperate ways.

millymoo1202 · 26/04/2025 18:11

I can’t believe people are saying it’s not an emergency! He ran over her foot, I asaume
police breathalysers him etc?