Will New York road-rage incident turn into self-defense case?

[steve2470]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57605845/will-new-york-road-rage-incident-turn-into-self-defense-case/

(CBS News) Police in New York say the motorcyclist who took video of a weekend road rage assault is now helping the investigation, and new photos appear to show the man who broke the side window of an SUV with his helmet. He is still at large.

A big question in the case is whether the driver of the SUV, Alexien Lien, will be charged. Biker Edwin "Jay" Mieses was critically injured when Lien plowed through several motorcycles. Police say Mieses broke both his legs as well as suffered spinal injuries that may leave him paralyzed.

About five minutes later, after a high-speed chase, police said that the bikers pulled Lien out of the SUV and attacked him. He received stitches and was released from the hospital. Police have not ruled out charging Lien for running over the bikers.

CBS News legal analyst Jack Ford told the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts that there was a similar question of self-defense in the George Zimmerman case where he was ultimately charged.

[RedstDem]

1. it is a case of self defense

So my vote is yes.

By the way, I ride my motorcycle to and from work everyday, and been for a long time.
Those bikers give us all a bad name.

[nykym]

3. I have a question RedstDem

Not about this incident and not meant to inflame those passionate about motorcycle riding.
I have noticed over time that when a group goes for a ride there are a number of persons practically riding the double yellow line on the road. Why is this? To me it seems unnecessarily dangerous as cars tend to take up the width of the lane they are riding in the cyclist is putting himself in an awkward spot.

[Mosby]

5. motocyclists avoid the middle of the lane

Because that's where oil from cars and trucks land.

If you divide up the lane in thirds riders use the right third or the left third but for visibility reasons the left third is favored.

Anyone that actually drives in or on the stripes is an idiot, there is little traction.

[nykym]

9. That makes sense!

Thanks

[RedstDem]

6. a lot of riders i know like to attract attention to themselves

I know of no other reason to ride the yellow lines.
I'm probably not the best to comment on that though, I hate riding in a group.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. I hope not. Not charged would be better.

[Nye Bevan]

4. No way should the driver of the SUV be charged.

He was surrounded by an angry mob of bikers intent on causing him harm, as evidenced by the beating that they ended up giving him.

[madrchsod]

7. no charge should be filed against the driver

unfortunately the dumb ass on the bike will be paying for his stunt the rest of his life.

after watching the videos those dumb fucks were lucky no one was hurt,killed,or caused a major accident scene.

[Whiskeytide]

11. Not to be too picky...

... and I'm not trying to start a debate, but as I understand the reports, the biker who was run over and hurt WAS NOT the one who initially pulled in front of the SUV and stopped quickly - causing the first collision.

Apparently hurt guy HAD stopped afterwards, and he may have been threatening the driver - but he was not the asshole who seems to have triggered the whole incident.

[Orrex]

13. If you're attacked by a mob, though, I don't believe you're required to single out your targets

That is, if the mob as a whole threatens/attacks you, it's not your responsibility to protect the one member of the mob who might afterwards claim "it was everyone else but not me!"

If the biker who got squished was part of the mob, then he was part of the attack.

[ieoeja]

8. I was just thinking this morning of the SUV driver as "the George Zimmerman of New York City".

I wasn't too surprised by the police action in the field. They were acting on what they saw which was Lien and his SUV getting the shit knocked out of them. They were maybe told about what occurred earlier. But until they see the video showing that only one man, not 20 to 30 "thugs", just one man walking up to the van and yanking the door open was enough to prompt Lien's murderous actions, then the cops really had nothing to act upon.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. Keep beating that drum. Unlike w/Zimmerman, we have video

So you are still wrong.

[ieoeja]

15. Yes, we do. Video that shows only one person anywhere near the SUV before he runs over somebody.

http://www.rightthisminute.com//video/biker-speaks-out-biker-suv-incident-nyc

I remember one DUer was trying to claim they were slashing his tires and beating his SUV while they were riding by before the accident. You're not the one making that claim, are you?

[cemaphonic]

14. Except the bikers are the Zimmermans here

Since they were the ones spoiling for a fight and instigating the conflict.

[B Calm]

12. One little rule I learned driving 18 wheelers, the

one with the biggest wheels win! If they had done that to me, I would have ran over a damn one of them!!!

[geek tragedy]

16. If 30 Trayvon Martins had surrounded Zimmerman while he was trying

to mind his own business while out with his family, maybe the comparison would make sense.