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?

Because the OP clearly didn't tell them there was no need, as he was now giving her his details?

Would you call 101 if someone was breaking into your home ? Of course you wouldn’t. The man was abusive when asked for his details. IMO he escalated it to a 999 call himself.

He wasn't abusive.

He began to give the OP his details the second she started speaking to the police.

From that moment on, there was no need for any police attendance.

It is entirely appropriate to call the police if a person, whether a pedestrian or someone in another car has been injured by a car. In fact it is the law that this should be done by the person causing the injury!
Can't say for certain what number you are supposed to use but if the 999 operator had not thought it was the right number they could have advised you what number to phone instead. The fact the police responded quickly does not suggest they thought that you were wasting police time or overreacting.
The other driver being dismissive of what he did and getting verbally aggressive was also bang out of order. If I'd hit anyone, most especially a child with my car I'd have been horrified and desperate to help.
I simply can't understand your DH's reaction - what is wrong with him? Someone has hurt his child, is flatly denying it and becoming verbally out of order with his wife . I'd be beyond pissed off at him and expecting a serious apology.

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).

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.

A profligate use of police resources, as the force concerned subsequently admitted. Total overkill, I agree, although I think the parents were vexatious to the school and defaming the head teacher.

DH was involved in a hit and run one Friday night last year as a pedestrian. The car sped round the corner and knocked into him. He bounced off the windscreen onto the road and blacked out. I called 111 and we were told to go to the police station as they were short staffed. I refused as DD was cut and shaking. The following day, they sent one officer after intervention overnight by senior officers, who said they should have come to our house the previous evening. (The police were not able to find the b**tard driver.)

Presumably, resourcing ebbs and flows, but as the number of crimes going uninvestigated shows, policing is generally under-resourced.

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.

Also a bit puzzled about what you needed his details for? Sounds like an accident.

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.

I’m so sorry to hear this happened, I hope your daughter is ok
I think it was completely appropriate to phone 999 for a car injuring a person, and the fact that the dispatcher also said it was appropriate on the phone, plus the swift police response, backs that up. Since the other driver had also started to escalate, that added to the urgency of the situation. I think it was wrong of your husband to not stand up for his family, and then get angry at you for doing so!
Perhaps your husband has a belief that needs should never inconvenience others. I hope he reflects on this and apologises to you and your daughter

@ThriveIn2025 are you normally so dim?

but it for them to decide and they clearly felt it was serious enough to send police there so don’t see why you know better than the police.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

This

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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.