What might happen if you were sued in civil court but couldn't afford a lawyer?

If you are sued in civil court and cannot afford a lawyer, the correct situation is that you would need to represent yourself. In the context of civil cases, the right to an attorney is not guaranteed in the same manner as it is for criminal cases. The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution provides for the right to counsel in criminal prosecutions, but it does not extend this right to civil cases.

In civil proceedings, while some specific cases might allow for legal aid services or representational assistance, there is no constitutional obligation for the state to provide a free lawyer for civil lawsuits. Consequently, you would likely have to navigate the legal process on your own, which can be quite challenging without legal expertise.

Dismissal of the case or garnishment of your income would not necessarily follow purely from the lack of legal representation, leading to the conclusion that representing yourself is the expected outcome in such a scenario.