Not possible to sue after you've taken a head shot for no reason!
But you are correct in the way americans often react...
Had an american girlfriend many years ago, and when out and about got pulled over for no reason.
I argued the toss in the usual way and the net result was simply a producer...
But as he said good night, he asked if my girlfriend was ok.
Looked over to the passenger seat and she was curled up with her hands over her head.
She told me later that had I spoken that way in her home country, the sh*t would have hit the fan...
And if I'd been black, very lucky to survive!
If they're happy to live that way, then good luck to them!