Two weeks, four days ago, while I was stopped at a stop light, an idiot rammed into my car with his Chevy Suburban, causing extensive rear-end damage to my car and propelling me into the car in front of me, causing front end damage to my car and rear end damage to his BMW. The police agree, as does my insurance company, that The Idiot was 100% at fault. However, my company is still on the cusp as to whether they will authorize repairs (about $16,500) or declare the car a total loss and pay me $26,500.
What should I be wary of? My goal is to have a reliable car at an acceptable cost to me, with time, energy and hassle counting strongly in calculating the cost. My preference is for repairs, but I have no disinterested party to consult.
To rephrase my question in case this sounds like a car mechanics question , which it is n.o.t. Should I be wary on non-mechanical grounds of an expensive repair decision that is within spitting distance of a "your car is totaled" decision. Especially since the car will have been sitting in the auto body shop for 19 calendar days as of next Monday.
I have no doubt my insurance company will pay, but they seem to be taking a long time to decide what to do. Or am I just too impatient?
Addendum in Response to Comments: There are two insurance companies involved: mine and the company of The Idiot and the BMW Driver. I am working through my company, who will pay for my car and then recover from the other insurance company. The delay seems to be caused by the back and forth between the body shop and my company's adjuster.