If my insurer totaled my car weeks ago but there has been no settlement and yet they are insisting release of the car to them, do I have to do this?

No, unless the car is accruing storage expenses. You could agree to release the car to the insurer's lot so that storage expenses are not increasing on a daily basis. If your car is totalled, there is not alot of negotiation. You are entitled to book value plus 6% sales tax. The insurer can deduct 5 to 10 cents for mileage from the book value. T get book value, you take an average of Keely Blue Book and NADA. If you are an occupant was injured aand the accident was someone else's fualt, you  may have a successful personal injury claim, meaning a lump sum of money for your injuries and resulting pain and suffering.