stupid insurance company! they won't write the check out for repairs to just me. it has to be me and the repair shop. i want the money to fix my engine. oh well. who's in the sf bay area that want's to fix my car? they gave me $1k for the repairs.
i'll try to post pics of the damage later.

Hi
I don't know how it works in your neck of the woods but here we have a thing called "re-check" but your amount is small anough to fall through the cracks. They average shop pays easily 20% to taxes on profit, if its a case of signing the back of the check, be prepared to pay a %, maybe someone has a body - mechanic shop, and trade the check for work, again he needs his profit and a cut for fudging the books.
Good luck with it
Regards
Joe

I use Yeamans Autobody in Palo Alto(?), long drive but I trust his work....for your damage, I'd just find someone local....I'd avoid trying to bribe them