Skilled settlement negotiations achieve favorable outcomes for most cases without trial risks, delays, and expenses. Opening negotiations with well-documented demand packages demonstrating liability and damages establishes strong positioning. Timing negotiations after completing medical treatment but before expensive litigation provides optimal settlement conditions. Multiple negotiation rounds allow parties to evaluate positions and move toward reasonable compromise gradually. Mediation with experienced neutrals facilitates settlements by helping parties recognize case strengths and weaknesses objectively. Insurance adjusters with settlement authority expedite resolutions compared to those requiring multiple approval levels. Failed negotiations provide valuable information about opposition positions helping refine trial strategies if necessary. Success requires patience and strategic concessions rather than rigid positions preventing reasonable resolutions.