A Total Loss

  [329 words] A few weeks ago, my oldest daughter was hit from behind by another driver. No one was hurt, and the damage to the rear bumper appeared minimal. The insurance company instructed me to take the car in for a closer inspection and repair estimate. During that inspection, they discovered that the damage was more extensive than we thought. I got a letter a few days later that began with this line: “Your vehicle listed below is a total loss.” They went on to explain the reasons that they chose not to repair the vehicle. The very next day, a tow truck showed up at the house and hauled the car away. A total loss. There’s not much that’s complicated in that phrase. It all came down to one decision—the cost to fix what was broken was more than the price they were willing to pay, so it…