Here your are incorrect. Just because you swerve to avoid a deer, a pothole, or a trashcan or debris in the road, does not give you the right to run into anyone else. You will be liable.
It's not a "right", it's a reaction. And yes, by law, it's legal to cause an accident by avoiding another accident. There is a lot of negligence out there but taking it to the point of "everyone is liable for mistakes" is taking this society into a liberal sue-happy future. People should not have to be paranoid of lawsuits and prison time while driving because paranoyia can cause an accident too. Drive at your own risk, but yes, there are many situations where negligence applies.
Bingo. There is no such thing as an accident when it comes to a motor vehicle collision with another vehicle, or a pedestrian.
These idiots need to pay for what they did. If the prosecutor wants to send a message, I say let him.
People like these two make me afraid to hop on my motorcycle every day, let alone walk on a sidewalk.