If you’re being sued, either for personal liability or premises liability, your first step should be to report the claim to your insurance provider as soon as possible. Being served with legal papers is an unpleasant surprise, but it’s important to treat the matter with urgency in order to avoid a default judgment against you. Upon receiving notice of your situation, your insurance provider will assign an experienced liability loss adjuster to assist you.
If your loss falls within the coverage provided by your home insurance, your adjuster will help you through the process of choosing an attorney and your insurance provider will pay for the cost of your legal defence. Compensatory damages awarded against you will be covered up to your limit of liability coverage, and other potential costs, including lost wages while you're in court, will generally be covered up to a certain amount. Depending on the nature of the policy you purchased, a deductible may or may not apply to the claim.