Rep Power: 0

My 2001 Civic LX 4-door sedan got hit by someone from behind and it pushed my trunk in to the point where I can't latch the hood.

Here's an album of some pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/iRnBS7iumxmpcH8e8

Insurance didn't cover enough of the $1000-3000 to fix it at a body shop, so I just want to push the inside of the trunk out enough that I can latch the hood... I think a jack (like the one that came with the car or a hydraulic jack like I can get at Walmart for $30) plus a block of wood or something like that would let me push it out, and someone recommended a hydraulic (power something-or-other) pump like I can get at Harbinger Freight that should work, but I and people I know are just not familiar enough with this kind of thing to know if this is feasible or the best DIY way to try.

The body shops I've talked to won't just do it for me for one-to-three hundred bucks, they all say they have to do it proper with paint and everything, which I don't care for right now (and I can't afford anyway). Is this feasible or is there some best way to do it or some other way using different tools and procedures?

 
Rep Power: 119

That actually does not look crunched too badly.

Got a big tree and a ratcheting come-along and a six foot 4x4 and some straps?

Remember your don’t want to exert force in the middle of the damage, your want to make lots of small moves working towards middle.

Unfortunately you can move that 95% back to its original position and the latch will stiff give you fits, just depends if the trunk base warped or is all just in the lip.

 
Rep Power: 0

Why not force in the middle? Will it suddenly explode and cut my legs off?

I'm not sure how I should make small moves working towards the middle, but I'll look into a ratcheting come-along whatever that is.

Someone suggested pounding it out with a sledgehammer, but that looks like a giant pain in the a$$ that could take days and may not be as effective as something else.

 
Rep Power: 210

I think I would try a hydraulic jack. Just make sure that whatever the base of the jack is against is strong enough that it will not deform. For example, place a 2"x6" or a paid of 2"x6" to spread the force out. I would push in the center of the dented area. Just push it out slowly and make sure the part you want to straighten is the part moving.

 
Rep Power: 85

I feel ya man,.I'm in the same boat pretty much, I have to get a new trunk lid and try to pull that same inner panel back into place, I was thinking about wrapping a tow strap around a tree and hooking it to the panel and just pulling back into place slowly, little by little

 
Rep Power: 229

If you haven't already, remove the plastic trim so it doesn't get even more F'd up, and so it will be easier to se the mechanical locking parts.

You can also remove the rear plastic bumper to inspect the interior metal components which need to be replaced/fixed.

A local scrap yard may help to.