Most drivers, homeowners and property owners buy liability insurance. The insurance company that insures the person who caused your injury generally pays for your entire legal defense and also pays any settlement or judgment against the defendant (the at-fault driver). Some large corporations and many governmental agencies do not have insurance and do pay settlements directly. In the average case, however, there is no personal payment necessary by the wrongdoer.
If your injury was caused in an auto accident by a careless driver who has no insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your loss, your own Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage provides compensation to you, your family members and anyone occupying your vehicle if you are injured. If you do not have Uninsured / Underinsured motorist coverage as part of your own insurance policy, you might not be able to recover much, if anything, from the driver who caused the accident.