>You're kidding, right?  Why would one do it one's self when it's clearly a
>situation where the liable person's insurance company will be required to pay
>for all the repairs.

Perhaps the idea is to get the money from the insurance company to actually
replace everything, but fix it yourself and keep the cash for the aggravation?

Everyone is in a different place in life, but when my van got hit on the side,
the estimate was just over $1000, even tho the damage was really minor in my
eyes. I looked at my, then twenty year old vehicle, considered the 'street
value' and the value to me, and spent the money on other van-related stuff to
keep it going, and to take me places I wanted to see. I fixed some of the damage
myself, the rest is inconsequential and gonna be there for life. Would that I
could afford everything I ever wanted <shrug>

If someone offered you, I don't know, $400 for a new bumper, but you would be
happy with something less, why not take the less, pound out the bumper, and use
the money to pay for a nice trip, or stereo, or a porta potti with a heated
seat? :-)

Just my POV,

John