Q: Do I need a lawyer?
I was served papers for a car accident in 2019 that I didn't know anything was still active on. My car was totaled, and paid for by insurance. I was under the impression that I was not at fault. I did not lose anything so I had no reason to look further into it, until now. Court date is Aug 28th. Should I seek defense for this date? Does the court provide me a free defense? The amount is for $1,200 plus interest, and court fees which are not disclosed in the details.
A:
A Kansas attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. Court date - August 28th - that's tomorrow. Sorry, I wish I saw your question sooner. By now, you may have been in touch with other side to request an adjournment, or to discuss settlement, or other??
An attorney would want to see your summons and complaint to comment meaningfully on what this involves. Given the timeframe of 5 years and the amount, it doesn't sound like a bodily injury claim. If you've brought yourself some time with the other side, the short answer is that the court will probably not provide you with a free defense. Your insurance carrier might, depending on what the claim is about, AND what your liability is.
A local attorney could advise more definitively after seeing your paperwork. Good luck
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