In any negotiation, I recommend aiming high...ask for 10x what they offer. You gotta come up with a target number. An amount you would be able to walk away content. Don't ask for that number initially. You ask for double the magic number and then work your way down towards it. For example, if you feel like $12,000 is the amt of p&s you want, tell them $24,000. They will think its absurd, but will counter up to like $5 or $6k. You drop to $20 and they come up and do on and so forth until u reach your actual target. The insurance company's goal is to get that release signed. Until that time they are still on the hook. I am surprised the lawyer advised you to negotiate it yourself...either he doesn't think you have a strong case or isn't a very good lawyer. You might try discussing your case with a different more aggressive lawyer. Good luck.