There is NO way that rider should have ever gotten hit. Had he/she been attentive, they had PLENTY of escape options, left tons of room to the front to escape, simply didn't watch their mirrors and when they heard squealing tires turned around rather than get out of the way.
As for the discussed topic, could care less if lane filtering or splitting were made legal wouldn't affect how I would ride, (wouldn't do it), don't care if someone else does it, (once it it legalized), as long as they accept the increased insurance premiums that our GREAT insurers are surely to pass along with the legalization of it.
I find most "arguments" for "safety reasons" IE lane splitting/filtering, loud pipes, et al, can be over come or dramatically decreased by rider better ability. A rider who is a competent and skilled rider, generally can avoid "most" issues where those things develop into being an issue.
