You may convince your lender to waive late charges
Temporary Relief
In the simplest case, if your payment is late because of unusual circumstance beyond your control, you may convince your lender to waive late charges. An illness or death in the family should qualify you for temporary relief.For instance, if you're taken to the hospital after a car accident, your lender may not charge you a late penalty. Generally, a valid reason for your late payment will stop the foreclosure process.
If you notify your lender quickly of your situation, it may not send out a Notice of Default. Of course, you will still need to make up the missed payment!
If you've missed a payment because an unavoidable circumstance your credit may still take a hit.