Other types of insurance do not pay for others' property. If someone damages my home, my homeowner's policy covers it. That makes sense - my property at risk, my policy covering it. If someone hits me, it is I taking the risk, so I should have a choice on how I deal with risk. If everyone dealt with their own risk, there'd be fewer lawsuits, because filing frivolous suits eventually would make you uninsurable.
People sue now because there is nothing to lose.
Herbert Haak was convicted of theft and bad checks. Fine, the evidence was there. In 1995, Haak confessed to raping and killing Kimberley Ernest in Center City, but at trial, claimed the confession was coerced. DNA recovered from under suspects' fingernails and the victim's body didn't match either Haak or Wise. I'd have voted with the jury.