# Do you have to call 911 if you injure an intruder? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 25, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132 "2023-12-25T20:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/81 "2023-12-28T13:12:51Z")
Although, that same link says: > At common law and in most states, people, generally, [have no duty to help or rescue](https://www.findlaw.com/injury/accident-injury-law/specific-legal-duties.html) another person. You would only have a duty to help if you created the peril, you started trying to rescue or help, or you have a special relationship, such as parent-child, with the person in need. It doesn’t say “you did something illegal”, just “you created the peril”. Getting back to the op, if you shoot someone in self defense, you have created the peril to their life. I’m sure many states have statutes that override common law, but it looks like common law says you do have a duty to attempt to render aid to the intruder. (Which can be fulfilled by, for example, calling 911.) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/82 "2023-12-28T13:45:22Z")
The administration of first aid is an important legal question when alleged criminals get injured during a crime. I’ve watched trials where attorneys have hammered home the point that Officer X waited several minutes for an ambulance and didn’t personally administrator first aid. The legal burden would be similar on a homeowner that injured someone that was trespassing and perhaps attempting burglary or robbery. Immediately calling 911 would be the first step and then the 911 operator would instruct on providing aid to the injured party. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/83 "2023-12-28T13:50:17Z")
That may be the case for a trained police officer, but I doubt it would apply to a scared homeowner who’s just gone through a traumatic event. Saying « I was afraid if I got close he could still attack me » would likely be a defence to that. Keeping away from the downed intruder and calling 911 doesn’t raise that issue. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/84 "2023-12-28T14:05:40Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Saying « I was afraid if I got close he could still attack me » would likely be a defence to that. Yes. The other thing that every first aid course drives home is that your first obligation, before attempting to render aid, is to ensure the scene is safe. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/85 "2023-12-28T14:12:35Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The administration of first aid is an important legal question when alleged criminals get injured during a crime. - Beyond arterial bleeding, I’m not coming up with any injury that would require aid over getting EMS rolling. As @Loach pointed out upthread, it’s possible to be severely injured and still be able to cause mayhem for at least a short time. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/86 "2023-12-28T14:51:02Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That may be the case for a trained police officer, but I doubt it would apply to a scared homeowner who’s just gone through a traumatic event. Saying « I was afraid if I got close he could still attack me » would likely be a defence to that. This. When a police officer shoots someone, they generally don’t attempt to administer first aid until after the subject has been handcuffed. A homeowner doesn’t typically have handcuffs at the ready, and even if they do happen to have zip ties handy, they don’t have the training to maintain control over a struggling subject while zip-tying their hands. It’s not reasonable to require a homeowner to approach, for any reason, an intruder whom they have just shot because they believed that intruder to be a threat. I am also doubtful that any well-trained 911 operator would ever advise a homeowner to approach an injured intruder for any reason, including administration of first aid. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/87 "2023-12-28T18:43:13Z")
And I notice that in some of the cases covered in the quote above, > [@griffin1977](#): > > - _Wisconsin_ – In Wisconsin, if you [_know_ that a crime is being committed](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/940/II/34), and that a victim has suffered or may suffer bodily harm, you have a duty to call police or provide assistance > - _Minnesota –_ If you are at the scene of an emergency and you know that someone has suffered grave physical harm, or could be hurt, you have a duty to give “reasonable assistance.” Reasonable assistance can mean [calling or attempting to call police](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=604a.01) or medical personnel. The act of summoning official responders by itself complies with the “duty of assistance” – you don’t _have_ to render direct lifesaving _yourself_. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/88 "2023-12-28T20:02:40Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And I notice that in some of the cases covered in the quote above I don’t think the Wisconsin law would apply, as there isn’t a crime “being committed” where a _victims_ life is in danger. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132/89 "2024-02-14T08:54:50Z")
I recommend the “be the first to call the cops” theorem. If you were (or were a potential) victim, then be a victim, Call in. [url=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtgyj2SJgIg[/url]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtgyj2SJgIg%5B/url%5D) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-call-911-if-you-injure-an-intruder/995132.md?page=4)