GAWD

See you are in Boston. All I'll say is make sure insurance plays fair. Don't let them under-inflate the damage estimate. Its an unfair advantage that you will only find out about when you go to several body shops for written quotes. Also beware of body shops that over-inflate their prices, if the estimate doesn't feel right, throw it away because there isn't an official who will check it for you. Toss it as quickly as you can, no need to get a firm hold of it, just grab it and release quickly.

Look for a shop that is I-Car certified --- this will help ensure the body man uses the correct grit sandpaper and that the painter uses a gauge on his paint gun to make sure the correct volume of filtered air is being discharged. Dealing with claims can raise your blood pressure, so stay cool and calm so that you aren't taken advantage of. Cheating is disrespectful, its unpatriotic, but seems to happen a lot.