This discussion of lanes and stuff is great and I pretty much agree with you, but it doesn't really dovetail much with what happened here. These two guys were on a rate limited road (likely difficult to execute a clean pass etc) likely having a retard conference together. It's pretty easy to see why courts and juries view these things as almost mutual combat, because this stuff never happens if at least one party makes a serious effort at deescalating. They collide, then get out and get into a dick measuring contest on the side of the road, instead of just sitting in their cars and waiting for the kopsch to come. Had either of them deescalated they might be out some money and be slightly butthurt. Kopsch would come write a couple of cites and then their insurance companies duke it out, maybe go to court for stuff only in the civil arena at absolute worst. (probably not even likely if the damage was limited) Instead, one of them has a bullet in his gut and the other guy is probably getting prosecuted with the 40 pound box of financial rape (and possible prison and likely PP status) and it's distinctly possible the other guy is going to get raped in court too, although he'll probably get just the tip. There's many ways to end these things, getting out on the side of the road and having it out with the other guy/broad/whoever is never going to end well most of the time.
-Mike