{"id":353080,"date":"2017-04-25T16:24:10","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T21:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/car-accidents\/i-received-a-car-accident-court-summons-now-what.html"},"modified":"2025-11-28T11:12:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T16:12:00","slug":"i-received-a-car-accident-court-summons-now-what","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/car-accidents\/i-received-a-car-accident-court-summons-now-what.html","title":{"rendered":"I Received a Car Accident Court Summons, Now What?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I Received a Car Accident Court Summons, Now What?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Ty McDuffey, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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Receiving a car accident court summons doesn\u2019t always mean you\u2019re being sued\u2014it could be for other reasons like testifying or answering minor charges. If you are sued, you must respond within the deadline, usually by filing an answer and contacting your insurance company. Ignoring the summons can result in a default judgment against you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A few days ago, you accidentally bumped into a car in front of you. The driver of that car seemed fine, so you thought you could get out of it. But today, you received a car accident court summons.<\/p>\n

Receiving this notice is unsettling. But receiving a court summons does not automatically mean you are being sued. This article explains the different types of car accident court summons and the steps to take after receiving the summons.<\/p>\n

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Feeling overwhelmed by the stress of a court summons is normal, but you don\u2019t have to face it alone. A car accident attorney<\/a> near you can ease the pressure and protect your rights from the start.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What Is a Summons?<\/h2>\n

A\u00a0summons is a document\u00a0that puts you on notice that you are\u00a0required to appear in court<\/a>\u00a0for several possible reasons:<\/p>\n