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?

I agree with this. He didn’t respond appropriately and that escalated it to a police matter.

I'll go with the dispatcher as the most qualified to judge what you should call 999 for.

And why is your dh angry with you and not angry with the driver who injured your children and tried to drive off??

I'm impressed you were able to react so fast.

I would always supervise young children getting into the car, even if it's just to ensure they don't catch the car next door. I think you over reacted but we're just scared. The other driver was probably upset too tbf. The lesson here is to supervise your children a little more, especially in risky situations such as car parks or crowded areas. Your DH was possibly worried the other driver was going to square up to him or even use a weapon. You do need to remember we live in a society where these alterations can escalate very quickly. Also, get a dash cam.

You don’t think it’s a criminal offence to harm a child with a vehicle and try and drive off? What planet do you live on?

The thing is the dispatcher actually decides where police should go or not, they heard the information from the OP and sent an officer if they had more pressing calls they would have diverted to that

The police turned up quickly therefore they clearly thought it was appropriate.

Yeah, realistically though there wasn’t enough time for that and I had already said my daughter had been injured by a car in a car park so they would either have called me back or traced the call which would have been a greater waste of their time

So, you’ve got the guy’s details? Or did he still not give them because the police showed up? How was it left? What are you going to do with his details? So many questions!

Why on earth an ambulance ?

Your DH is wrong, it was not an overreaction. The police themselves thought it was a police matter and responded accordingly. It could be that an offence was committed like causing injury by careless driving.

I hope your dd recovers well

You should really assist a child getting in and out of the car when parked next to another. Apart from anything else it infuriates me when parents hop in and let the child just swing the door open with no consideration to bumping the car next to it.

But surely you would've said, "Oh actually it's ok. The driver is now giving me his details"?

No you're fine.
He was driving without due care and attention, caused harm to a person and attempted to leave without providing details.
Very much a police matter. And for what it's worth, 999 is for crimes that are happening. Non emergency is for crimes that have happened and doesn't need an immediate response. This very much did need an immediate response.

I disagree, it's on the driver to make sure it is safe to drive before doing so. You often have to enter a car when someone is parked beside you - how is the child at fault for doing that?

Then you did the right thing. The call handlers know exactly what to do.
I did the reverse, phoned 101 and was told it was a “ get police there right away” situation and was put through to the 999 call handler.
Hope your dd is ok.

@hottubwhocares did you take her to the hospital? My child hurt her ankle at soft play. It looked like a sprain but it turned out to be a fracture.

This wasn't a 999 matter.

I think if he had driven off, which it seems like he intended to, it would have been a hit and run. So I don't think it was an overreaction on your part. In fact you sort of did him a favour by scarring him with the phone call, so he didn't drive off. Not sure it was 100% necessary to call them, but I can see why you did.

Your update suggests DH was there?

It probably didn’t need 999 but in a moment of panic and extreme protection of my child I’d probably have done the same on a whim. I think if he’s already driven over a child’s foot he may be dangerous on the road so calling 999 could have prevented a much worse accident.

Your DH is being a dick by caring more about what other people thought than his DD’s foot. I would most certainly think the worst of someone who’d run over a child’s foot and wasn’t the least bit sorry and didn’t wanna be held accountable.

It was, and the police themselves said so.

Obviously the call handler would say it was a police matter if that’s how you explained it over the phone. “My daughter has been injured by a car in the car park” that could have been anything , for example, knocked over at speed or a light tap.

what were you going to do with the drivers details once you had them?

This wasn't a 999 matter.

which is presumably why the police told her that and didn’t show up. Oh wait….

Also agree with BillyBoe46, I would make sure she is checked out at minor injuries or similar, unless you are 100% sure she is OK. The mechanism of injury sounds scary. Hope you are all OK.

There was a newspaper article a couple of weeks ago reporting on how no less than six police officers attended a private house because the occupant was deemed to be criticising their childrens’ school in a WhatsApp post. So clearly not every force is under staffed.