Took a hard left to the jaw during the swim.

Sorry to hear that.  That sucks.

I'm a rather "dangerous peacenik".  I don't mind incidental contact when swimming in the washing machine.  No big deal.  Someone taps your foot, you brush up alongside someone, your goggles accidentally get bumped off... it's all part of the game so long as we're all civil and understanding of other racers in the water.  When I come up on someone (which is rare), if they don't move over, I go around them.  When someone bumps me in the side, I just slide over a bit to make room.  If someone gives me "the tap" I actually move over a bit to let them on by (the more frequent scenario).  We all CAN get along and do the mass swim together with minor, incidental contact.

But when someone thinks that they have the right to try and push me under and swim over top of me or grab my ankle or suit or NECK (it has happened) to pull themselves forward or endanger me in any way just because they're trying to get out of the water a mere second or two faster... watch out!  That person will come out of the water bloodied in some way.  I can feel the difference between accidental and intentional.  And I don't care about the DQ.  I'll break your nose before I drown because of you.