Accident damage:(

[rick3000]

Do not hesitate to insist that the car be repaired to it's previous condition. The insurance will have to pay who ever you choose to take it too, they cannot tell you where to take it.

When you do get it repaired, make sure to test drive the car and give it a thorough once over before signing any paperwork. You can refuse to take the car back, if it has not been repaired to your standards, which is much easier than trying to convince the insurance to let you take it to another shop for additional repairs. I had to do this when the shop refused to repair my custom painted bumperettes after a fender bender.

Sorry to hear about your Box, I hope it turns out well. I would suspect several thousand in damage. That rear panel is not cheap, and it sounds like you may also have some hub/rim and possible suspension damage.

[Jamesp]

These posts contain excellent advice. What you have done is entered into is a business deal with your insurance company. Expect that they are your adversary and trying to get out of this as cheaply as they can without regard to you. Zero cost would be great for them, leaving you to deal with the damage. They'd take that in a heartbeat and would pursue that if at all possible. They will certainly pursue minimal cost to them without regard to you and push that agenda. As a negotiation tactic there is no reason for you not to be unreasonable. They are intentionally unreasonable by citing "policy". Ask them if they can fix it "right", and make a big deal about it. That way when it comes back with sand scratches and inadequate (to your standards) body work, you can reject it and refer to the "you said you could fix it right" conversation. That strategy has worked, and I have never had an insurance claim I did not have to push back on. It's all about the money. I know I'm sounding negative, but I've had to deal with this and from my experience the best defense is a good offence. Don't make the mistake of being nice to the insurance company representatives, they do not have your best interests in mind. It's not personal, it's just business. Good luck and treat this like it should be treated, nothing more than a game between you and the insurance company. You might get lucky and get a positive resolution without conflict which would be outside my experience.