Unfortunately, insurance companies are bolder today than they were in the 70s or 80s. No they often want to go to trial on cases they never would have risked before. Insurance company propaganda has poisoned the well of potential jurors. Many jurors come to court with the expectation of finding some scam artist claiming to be horribly injured as a result of some relatively minor event.
Trial is war.
It is war by a certain set of formal rules. The lawyers know and understand the rules. The participants and jurors may or may not. This article is intended to give you a rough road map of what will happen. Different states have different rules of civil procedure.