Tom I'm glad you are okay!!! I've had a few near misses in my time as well, there's nothing like having the whole and sum of your life weighed before you in those brief moments.
Here in WA. It is now illegal to text while driving, and in june becomes illegal to talk on the cell while driving. To me this is just common sense, but evidently people are sooo self important and self centered that we have to have even more regulations and rules imposed upon us becase they can't get it together enough to realize that this is not only bad behaviour, but dangerous as well... Unbelievable to me... ANyway tom I am very glad you were not hurt, and yes, she shoukld pay for a new wheel, but if it goes to court (let us hope it does not have to go that far, that this woman is adult enough to take responsibility for her actions), you won't get a better wheel; in the eyse of the law it is about making you whole again, not better off... Or so I've been led to understand- I'm not a lawyer...