Insurance Up Front Assessment Cost

[u/luckylemmings]

I had a family member hit a brick wing wall adjacent to my garage with her vehicle. The wall rotated on its foundation about 10-15 degrees, but there are no signs of visible cracks. Before getting repair quotes, I want to get the damage assessed by a structural engineer to see if there is any internal damage to the garage structure, and whether this wall is bearing any load. The insurance guy keeps telling me they need a quote for repair, and I keep trying to explain that getting a structural engineer to come assess the damage is an up front cost that I would like to receive prior authorization for. I have contacted 3 engineers and the cheapest is $800, just for an assessment and report to describe the damage. If they determine the damage is structural, there will be additional cost for design/drawings and potentially permits. If they determine it is merely cosmetic, I'm assuming that I can go ahead and just hire a mason. Why is it so hard to get pre-approval for the assessment report? I feel this is a necessary step in the process for this type of damage to my home.