Scott explains:
=================
In the mandatory liability policy model, when I cause a wreck, my
liability
insurer is liable for the damages, so my company will fight tooth and
nail
to deny the claim, defend me and my actions and place the blame on you,
and
you'll be lucky if you ever see a dime from my liability insurance
policy.
However, if YOU have insurance to protect YOU against harms caused by
others, then YOUR insurance company has to pay off and then try to
extract
compensation from me, or my insurance company. You're much more likely
to
actually get a timely settlement if YOU insure yourself rather than
trusting
to MY insurance company's altruism.
=============

In BC, MY company is YOUR company. You'll only go to court if you don't
like the settlement OUR company offers you (been there, done that). In
the case of most minor bang-ups, there's not much of an issue -- get a
couple of bodyshop quotes, get the isurance company OK and then get the
job done.