When you make an insurance claim, the inspector comes to your car wherever it's located. Some insurance companies also accept an inspection report submitted by a qualified technician at an auto body shop. During the inspection, the adjuster is not only evaluating the extent of the damage but also confirming that the damage present matches the description of the accident itself. They also determine whether any damage to the vehicle was present before the accident.
Once the inspection is complete, the adjuster either recommends collision repair and makes an estimate of the cost or declares the vehicle a total loss. Typically, if the cost of collision repair exceeds half the vehicle's market value, it's considered totaled.