If you have money in a savings account just for car emergencies do you still have to pay for car insurance or can you use your money as insurance?

Let's assume that your state of residency does not require you to have insurance (although most of them do). You have an accident,the car(s) are seriously damaged. People are injured and it turns out to be your fault. Do you have thousands of dollars in the account? More likely hundreds of thousands? If not you have a BIG problem. Not to mention that if you do not own the car "free and clear" you have to carry full coverage anyway.