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IMO, it's highly unlikey that it can be safely and properly returned to it's pre-accident structural condition ... a good body shop can make it LOOK GOOD, but there's so many other structural and integrity issues that will remain that it likely wouldn't be a good choice to keep this vehicle on the road. Most importantly, it probably won't have the structural integrity to safely protect you in another crash.
And herein lies one of the main reasons why insurance companies total a car if the repairs will likely exceed 75% of the car's value -- it's a quick and easy way of making just such a determination. Take the money and run; they're doing you a favor.
My sympathies go out to Dennis. I no longer have comprehensive insurance on any of my cars just because it's not worth it. Especially considering the insurance premiums and the deductibles. My cars are worth a lot more to me than they book for. Cie la vie.
The last time I got into a fender bender, I still had my original hood (~$150 value), I found a used fender with oem paint ($50) and a headlight ($40) off of craigslist and my boyfriend pulled out the radiator support by hand. BTW it was my boyfriend at the wheel of that accident.
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