possible fly in ointment?

Ok, guys, this never ending roller coaster has just twisted again. I don't
know if I've told you all, or if you all remember, but part of our financial
problems stemmed from dh being involved in an auto accident at work last
November (not all, unfortunately we had just been in the process of digging ourselves
OUT of debt at that time and this just fouled that all up, lol). He was off
work for 3 months, lost a lot of salary and such, and is now permanantly 12%
disabled (just got the official paperwork today).
Well, we are just about to file our bankruptcy. Making last payment tomorrow
as a matter of fact. When we get a call from our lawyer in the civil suit.
The girl who caused the accident, her insurance is willing to settle. It's a
LONG story, involves OUR insurance also (she had only state minimum, we're
going to have to file a claim against OUR insurance for "uninsured/underinsured
motorist") but we should end up with (after Workmans Comp and the lawyers all
get their cuts) about 30-40K. And that will probably be within a couple
months, possibly as short as a month.
SO, now we are meeting with our bk lawyer tomorrow for more than signing
papers. He's going to see if the money from the settlement can be protected. If
NOT, we will not file, I guess, and will pay off our debts and pray we have
enough leftover to do something with.
I am thinking that if that's the way we have to go, then we will do
this.....offer the creditors deals. Tell them that we are considering filing
bankruptcy (they don't have to know that we have decided NOT to, right) and say that we
will make a deal with them for partial payment to settle instead. Question
is, isn't there something special you want them to agree to in that case?
Like, you want it to say something special on the credit report, so it doesn't
LOOK like you made a deal? Any OTHER advice related to this? Thanks

Erin (9/29/74) wife to Steve (9/29/67) since 10/23/99
Mommy to Megan (12/10/95), Mariah (5/14/00) and #3 due 12/15/03
Websites: AND Cottonbums.com
If we will do the possible, God will do the Impossible!