First, ensure everyone’s safety and call 911 if there are injuries. Contact the police to file an official report. Exchange names, insurance, and contact information with the other driver, but do not discuss fault. Take extensive photos of the scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Get contact details from any witnesses. Seek medical attention promptly, even for minor pains, as some injuries appear later. Finally, notify your own insurance company about the accident but avoid giving a detailed recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer without advice.

You should obtain a detailed, written estimate from a licensed, reputable contractor—not the insurance company or the at-fault party’s adjuster. An independent contractor works for you and has a duty to provide a complete scope of work based on current market rates. Their estimate reflects the true cost to fix the damage properly. Relying on the other side’s estimate often results in a lowball figure that excludes necessary repairs or uses subpar materials.

A vehicle is declared a total loss when the estimated cost to repair it exceeds a specific percentage of its pre-accident value, often between 70-80%. This decision is made by the insurance company’s adjuster, not a mechanic. They compare repair estimates against the vehicle’s actual cash value. Even if a car could be fixed, it’s deemed a total loss if doing so is economically unreasonable. The threshold percentage is set by state law or the insurer’s internal policies.