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

[hottubwhocares]

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?

The law states that this is injury road traffic accident at which you must stop and provide your details to the other party and also report it as soon as possible and in any case within 24 hours if I remember correctly.
if the other driver fails to do so they commit offences for which they can be reported and summonsed.
please ensure you take photos of your daughters injuries if the police didn’t do that.

I am amazed that some people on this thread think it isn’t a police matter or indeed an emergency.

The radio dispatcher has deemed it is worthy of sending an officer and probably on a grade 2 to attend within an hour. The OP hasn’t said they turned up with blue lights on.

OP with my professional knowledge you have absolutely done the right thing

Interestingly enough I saw a figure that suggested that Road Traffic Collisions cost the UK over 2% of GDP

Clearly more enforcement and stigmatisation of bad driver behaviour could save us a lot of money

A little, photo of his reg and a call to 111 for fleeing an accident was more appropriate BUT in the heat of the moment when they're shouting and your kid is hurt I totally understand

I think you were right to call 999. Your daughter had an injury and he was displaying unreasonable behaviour.

I think your reaction is perfectly understandable under the circumstances. When we’ve got an upset/injured child we don’t always think rationally. I agree that the non emergency police number would have been more appropriate however in the moment when he’s refusing to give his details I get why you dialled 999.
This is a recordable incident under the Road Traffic Act and by law he is required to give you his details.

You were right to phone.the call taker would not have sent officers if not appropriate

No I don’t think you over reacted. He hit a child with his car and attempted to leave the scene? Without leaving his details. I’d have called the 9s too! Spin that situation.

if he has apologised and gave you his contact information before leaving; then I’d have reported to 111.

your husband sounds like an AH. I’d have tore him a new one.

? A child was hit with a car and the driver attempted to leave the scene without apologising, or leaving his details? Are you serious? Ye sir have called the police in 999.

if he had apologised and given his details, then I’d have reported it to 111.

he was being abusive and evasive. The husband is the AH HERE!

If you’d have rung the non emergency line somebody would have got back in contact with you a few days later, by which time it’s too late. You’re not going to be featured in the press release which lists the Top 10 stupidest reasons people rang 999, that’s for sure.

The driver of another parked car reversed into my dad pulling his door off and the skin of his hand (they call it degloving) and one of his fingers (which was reattached - as was the skin on his hand) - police came. The man did drive off but as there was footage the police caught up to him....but nothing has happened to the driver - very strange!

You were right. The driver committed an offence and broke the law; they also refused to give you their details.

Exactly this.

Why didn't you take of photo of his car and registration plate....You should have rang treble one. Treble 9 is for emergencies, life threatening emergencies. Some people do over react.....But then again l imagine if your child is hurt by another you react to the ,there and then. Hope your dad is doing okay

I think you were right, to hurt a child (even in a miniscule way) , then deny it, refuse details & gob off ...I think you acted reasonably. It may make him think twice and prevent a more serious accident.

Honestly you weren't wrong to call the police given his oblivious attitude and obnoxious response.

Yes your DH should have walked your dd to the car and ensured she was safely in but that doesn't excuse someone causing an injury of any degree with their car.

And your DH needs to behave. What he has shown his child is that it is ok if she gets hurt as long as no one makes a fuss. Great lesson (not)!

I am a police officer.
If that happened to me and my child in that scenario I would call 999 without hesitation. That is what the police are for.
I hope your child is on the mend and isn't traumatised.

Yes you overreacted. It was an accident
If he had been all apologetic and gave his details I doubt you would have called them.
You literally called the police cause a man was being rude.

I’m astonished at the contrarians on here. Hopefully the later posters haven’t read any of the thread, not even the last few posts, as it’s clear this was in fact a crime in progress, the DD’s injuries weren’t clear, and the driver was trying to leave the scene without leaving his details.

999 isn’t just for lives at risk. It’s for crimes in progress. I’ve ring it when the house on the end of my street was being burgled.

Agreed and btw, I have no clue what the none emergency police number is. I’d have dialled 999 too.

I would have done the same. If the despatcher didn't think it was a urgent matter then they wouldn't have sent the police. When my mam rang 999 when my grandad fell and broke he's hip the despatcher didn't put it down as an emergency so it took 8 hours and a few more phone calls. I think they have an option to choose if it's a emergency or not.
I bet he was too busy talking to his girlfriend and didn't bother to look in he's mirrors. It could have been much worse, he could have hit your car door and jammed your daughter. Still I'd get an your daughter an x-ray done. There's loads of small bones in the feet and if one is broken it could lead to problems later on in life. (It's happend to me)

He might not have realised he'd run over your daughter's foot. Did you not tell him what he'd done? Tbf, you probably weren't thinking clearly and his attitude didn't help. I'd have done the same as you. I hope dd is OK.

DH is job. He says you were right to call 999.

I would wonder at your DH's commitment to his kid in a situation like this.

I think anybody who says he hasnt done anything wrong is a real nob.You know the type. There is only me on the plsnet and l can do whatever l want,whenever l want. Especially as a man.

This phrase has now become the favourite reply from people like him. .A mantra. l hate it.

As for your daughtyers minor injuries.

How were you to know that she hadnt torn a ligament or cracked a bone?

How about him.driving without due care and attention? Mt Police Man,?

I bet if you had accidentally scratched his car. He would have gone ApeShit.

You did the right thing by calling police.
l would have done the same.

Hope your daughter is now OK and geting over the upset.

Regards
👍🌻🚓
X

I wouldn’t have let her get in on her own in those circs but held the door open or let her get in from the other side. If someone is in the driver’s seat of a car you never know when they are suddenly going to move. (I’m often baffled why people walk behind parked cars with engine running and reversing light on in supermarket car parks.)