A process server or sheriff just came to your door and handed you a citation and a copy of the Plaintiff’s Original Petition. You have been sued. Now what?
The first step is to take a breath and read the documents. They will contain important information and deadlines concerning the lawsuit. Next, if the Petition relates to an accident or injury case, call your insurance company immediately and inform them that you have been served with a Petition. Ideally, your insurance company has already given you some advance warning that the Petition has been filed and that a process server will be delivering the documents to you. If the lawsuit comes as a surprise to you, call your insurance company, inform them about the Petition, and they should provide you with an attorney for your defense and guide you concerning what to do next. If you do not have insurance coverage or if your insurance company does not provide you a defense, contact a lawyer immediately. An attorney will know the deadlines and responsive filings that are appropriate for your particular case.
