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?

These comments are so bizarre!

He ran over a child's foot. Heard her scream. Stopped the car. Refused to give details. Got all shirty with the OP.

I would have called 999 too. And the dispatcher told her it was a police matter.

OP it must be hard second guessing yourself but the only person that mattered in that moment was your young child who had just been hurt.

I'm more concerned her dad was trying to say during the call it didn't need the police in this scenario! That's the bizarre reaction here IMO.

You did the right thing in that situation. I once rang 101 to report someone driving dangerously (had not even committed a crime at this point - like running over a child’s foot!!!) and was told off because I should’ve rang 999 to get someone there straight away to speak to them and because it was the non emergency number and I was on hold for so long they wouldn’t be able to find them now. You had a situation that needed dealing with there and then, it may not be an ‘emergency’ but it required police presence.

Why did you want his details anyway?
What were you going to do with them?

I wondered that

You think that i am ridiculous because I cited the law and actions required to be taken by law?! Interesting

Why was your daughter so close to a moving car and why was nobody watching her? You must have heard the engine start.

Ridiculous to call it a hit and run

You made the right call imo… non urgent police would’ve been more for if he’d already driven off and you wanted to report the incident. The fact the crime was still in process (he was going to drive off after hitting a child) means that this was a crime in progress and 999 was absolutely appropriate! Especially since he may have been drunk driving and about to speed off and hit someone else!… Also at the time you would not have known that her foot / ankle wasn’t more seriously damaged! She’s incredibly lucky !! Hopefully this idiot will be more careful in future!!

His car did make contact though, so he technically hit her…. If he then drove off it was a hit and run….

Sounds like a nice example of police being available to deal with a relatively minor issue in a timely manner! That won't get any traction.

Sorry HRFT
Failing to stop at the scene of an accident
Failing to exchange details etc

Are usually indicators of other issues
Eg. No insurance, no licence, drink, drugs or involvement in other crimes.
Basically sign of someone with something yo hide. This is likely why police response seemed disproportionate and I'm sure if there was something else urgent they would have diverted away.

As former civi cops op I would have no issue with the OP reporting such incident on 999.
Had the bad dude exchanged details civily, accepted responsibility or ge really been a better person likely 101 would be better but injuries+kids = massive adrenaline kick =999

If someone is committing a crime or you have reason to believe they are about to commit one then you call 999, surely?

If he’s caused serious injury he’d be liable!

An accident isn't a legal term, Did the incident happen? Who was responsible?
It's an incident.
I hope to got in trouble for refusing to provide his details.

YANBU. Full stop.

All the OP needed was his registration number, she could have easily taken a quick photo of that

That’s exactly what it is. If they fail to exchange details.

It’s not the responsibility of the injured party. The person causing the accident is required by law to exchange details

No it's not. It's a hit and stay put. The child's leg was run over by the back wheel, in slow motion, the car remained in the carpark. No-one did any running.

S170 of the road traffic act sets out what drivers should do 'owing to the presence of a motor vehicle an accident occurs where damage or injury is caused' they must stop and give their name and address and registration to any person who may have reasonable cause to ask'

I paraphrase a bit.

He drove his car, hit a child and caused injury to the child. He was asked for his details and was uncooperative.

The police should have initially assessed any injury and the need for medical attention, before turning their attention to those involved, and conduct checks such as name/address/insurance/breathalyser/drug wipe etc.

The OP stated the driver was obfuscating which may suggest to the suspicious mind that there may be an issue, do they have insurance? Were they on their phone etc... and thereby are there any other offences....

If it were my child, no way would they just be driving off. Hope that's helpful.

YANBU
Im amazed at so many not knowing the law around motor vehicle accidents or the purpose of 999.
As others have said, any accident involving damage or injury should be reported to the police, how and when is usually dependent on the circumstances.
In this case, the other drivers attitude made it 100% correct to call 999. Some people act like this gets you straight through to your own personal police car! You reach a control room whose role it is to decide the appropriate response to your situation.

However, I am concerned that an 8 yo was getting into the passenger side of the vehicle without adult supervision, This isn’t responsible behaviour and it’s obvious the DC got too close to the other vehicle. It’s not clear from the OP whether the driver of the other car knew if the DC was there or not.

Nope. Call handler here. He was being abusive and wouldn't provide details at the scene. Thats cause for 999.

Lol thats ridiculous. I myself and my brother have had both our feet run over and not had them broken

Yeah thats not true. Plenty of people don't get anywhere with hose details. And the onus is on him to provide the details.

Hit and run?! It sounded like there was an accident, sadly a child got a minor injury, but it sounded like he didn't even realise it had happened until suddenly a women was shouting at his window.

And it wasn't said not to report it, the point made was this is NOT a 999 incident. The incident has already happened. Call 101 if you want, but calling 999 is not the right thing to do.

If course the police will come regardless, they hear a hysterical mother saying her child's been run over!