If I'm forced to default on my credit card how long before I am turned over to a collection agency and then sued? I would like to know how much breathing space I will have to gather money to get back on my feet and for the lawsuit.

No one timeline, each card company may be different, and they may be different with you.
Basically you start getting calls on one month late, and collections in a couple months, some wait several years to actually sue, they want the fees to build up and up