These situations exist but they are actually pretty rare. As lawyer can tell you, in the modern legal system attempts at "self-help" are generally bad for the plaintiff.
Seems like these days, the expected strategy is to let things happen and delegate making you whole to insurance and the legal system.
I can see how this is better - especially for society in general - than taking things into your own hands, but then insurance sometimes will try to screw you (is there insurance for insurance?), and lawyers are prohibitively expensive for many.
