Damn, that's a bummer about the rim. Thank goodness you made the correct split-second decision to not swerve and hit a car next to you. That's excellent driving.
For the cop to tell you that you get a point on your license for filing an insurance claim is just unbelievable. There are millions of instances each day where a person is forced to run over something on a highway because they simply could not move to the left or right and could not see the object in time due to the car in front of them blocking the view of the object. It has nothing to do with following someone too closely. Just another example of why I try to avoid the highways at all costs when I'm in my own '69.
I hope Bonspeed is able to help you out in some way. Looking at the photo, I would be surprised if the center section isn't somehow bent slightly. I certainly hope it isn't and that they can extract it and weld it into a new hoop. Thank goodness the damage is only to your wheel.
-Chris