Consumers in California are protected by one of the nation’s strongest Lemon Laws. California’s Lemon Law allows consumers to demand all of their money back if they have purchased or leased a vehicle with a substantial warranty-covered defect that cannot be repaired after giving the manufacturer a reasonable number of attempts to do so.
But despite the real protections in the state’s Lemon Law, car manufacturers will typically fight claims and resist giving refunds. This makes it necessary for most consumers to obtain the assistance of an experienced attorney to pursue a Lemon Law claim.
At The Barry Law Firm, our practice has focused solely on California Lemon Law claims since 2010. A Lemon Law lawyer serving San Diego from our firm can take the burden of a claim off your shoulders as we fight for every bit of fair compensation you are owed for your faulty vehicle. We take cases from throughout California, including San Diego. We have helped thousands of consumers like you rid themselves of lemons and recover their losses.
If you believe your car is a lemon, you have rights and several options for engaging a Lemon Law lawyer serving San Diego, CA. As part of your research, we suggest contacting The Barry Law Firm today for a fast, free, and no-obligation legal consultation to discuss how we can assist you. One thing we’ll tell you is that the manufacturer pays your attorney fees and costs after a successful Lemon Law claim. That means you will never receive a bill from our California Lemon Law lawyers, regardless of the outcome of your case.
Is My Motor Vehicle a Lemon?
Under California law, a vehicle is considered a lemon if it has a substantial defect covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty that persists despite a reasonable number of attempts by the manufacturer to repair it. The defect must impair the vehicle’s safety, use, or value.
A “reasonable number” of repair attempts can vary from case to case. If the defect poses a significant danger, two or more attempts to fix the problem are typically considered reasonable under California Lemon Law. Manufacturers may be entitled to more than two attempts to fix less severe issues. In certain circumstances, your vehicle may automatically qualify as a lemon if it is out of service for an inordinate amount of time.
If you have a lemon, you have the right to demand that the manufacturer buy it back from you. In a successful California Lemon Law claim, you may be able to recover:
- What you paid to purchase or lease the vehicle, including the down payment, monthly loan or lease payments you’ve made, and the balance of your loan
- Your collateral charges, including sales or use taxes and license and registration fees
- Your incidental costs, such as repairs, towing, and rental cars or other alternative transportation while your vehicle was unavailable to you
- Attorneys’ fees and costs
You don’t have to live with the headache of a car that spends more time in the shop than on the road if the original manufacturer’s warranty covers its problems. Let a California Lemon Law attorney help you make things right.
I Have a Lemon Vehicle — What Now?
If you think your vehicle is a lemon, you should start by choosing a lawyer to represent you and protect you from any underhanded tactics by the manufacturer. But before reaching out to a lawyer, you should try to:
- Review your vehicle’s warranty. For a valid claim, the problems you are experiencing must be covered by the manufacturer’s original written warranty. If the warranty has expired, your vehicle still qualifies as a lemon if the warranty was in force when you first tried to get repairs.
- Document ownership of the vehicle. You will need your purchase or lease contract, loan documents, and vehicle registration. This all establishes when and where you got the vehicle, along with other important details.
- Document your vehicle’s problems. To validate your claim, you’ll need all repair orders and invoices for work on your car and records of communication with the authorized dealership or service center. Gather receipts, bank records, emails, texts, and any other relevant records.
- Document incidental costs of your faulty vehicle. If you have had your vehicle towed because of its defects or had to rent a replacement vehicle, these and similar costs can be included in your claim. Collect your related bills, invoices, receipts, and bank statements.
This documentation can all help potential lawyers determine if you have a valid claim and what they can do for you.
I Need a Lawyer — What Should I Do?
There are a few steps you can take to find a California Lemon Law attorney best suited to help you.
Research Attorneys
Start with an online search for Lemon Law lawyers serving San Diego, CA. You might ask friends, family, or other lawyers you know for a referral. The State Bar of California has a directory of several lawyer referral services it has certified that may also help you.
Check Their Credentials
Once you have a few lawyers’ names, use the CA State Bar’s attorney search tool to confirm that they are licensed in California. Also, check whether they have been subjected to any disciplinary or administrative actions by the Bar. Find their websites and read their biographies for further information.
Read About the Lawyer’s Reputation and Reviews
Enter an attorney’s full name and “review” in your favorite online search engine, and you should get multiple resources with information about that lawyer. Also, check their websites for client testimonials and sample case results. You want to find someone with a proven track record of obtaining results, as well as reviews from clients who had a positive experience working with them.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Most lawyers offer a free, no-obligation initial legal consultation. Schedule consultations with several Lemon Law attorneys who appeal to you so far. See how well they listen as you explain your situation and how clearly they explain your legal options, potential outcomes, and what they can do for you. Think about how comfortable you feel with their one-to-one communication style, and ask how they’ll keep you updated about your case.
Ask About Legal Fees
The California Lemon Law protections require the manufacturer to pay the consumer’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs if the consumer wins in a Lemon Law claim. Because of this, The Barry Law Firm never charges its clients a fee. If we don’t win your case, we don’t get paid.
However, some California Lemon Law attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning they receive a percentage of the money recovered in the case. Others charge an hourly rate or a flat fee for their services. Make sure you know what your lawyer charges before you hire them to represent you.
What Can a Lawyer at The Barry Law Firm Do for You?
Obviously, your vehicle’s manufacturer does not want to buy it back from you. If you pursue a Lemon Law buyback, they will likely fight it. They might try arguing that your vehicle’s defect is not covered by their warranty, the problems are the result of unauthorized repair work, or your claim is invalid due to some technicality of the law. Because California’s Lemon Law is complex and auto manufacturers employ teams of attorneys who deal with these claims every day, you will need a lawyer in your corner to level the playing field.
A Lemon Law case typically relies on a series of documents that show the consumer’s multiple futile attempts to have their vehicle repaired, the manufacturer’s responses, and the costs of dealing with the faulty vehicle. If there are documents that the dealership has that you don’t, an experienced California Lemon Law lawyer can help you obtain them.
Car warranties are also complicated and include legal language that may be difficult for consumers to understand precisely. An experienced Lemon Law attorney will be familiar with typical warranties and all their requirements and protections – and they’ll use that knowledge to fight for your rights and build a solid claim.
As your California Lemon Law attorneys, The Barry Law Firm can help you:
- Document what you’ve been put through because of your defective vehicle
- Handle everything required of the buyback legal process from start to finish
- Aggressively press your vehicle’s manufacturer to make full restitution to you
- Take a solid case to court for you if necessary
- Represent you during all proceedings required to ensure that your rights are protected
Call Today for Help with Your Case!
Contact The Barry Law Firm today for a FAST & FREE legal consultation if you think your vehicle is a lemon. Our experienced and aggressive lemon lawyers serving San Diego can help you hold large vehicle manufacturers accountable and demand justice. But don’t just take our word for it. Read what our happy former clients have to say about working with us, such as this one:
“I highly recommend using The Barry Law Firm for anyone that has lemon law concerns!…There is literally nothing to lose with calling The Barry Law Firm! There is no cost to you whether you win or lose, and they do the entire process for you! There was always someone there to update me as far as the status of my claim, and were quick to respond to emails. I was so frustrated when I started having issues with my car that was only three months old, and the dealership was a nightmare to deal with; but David and his team were our saving grace and I would still be driving my broken car if not for them!” – Amanda M.
Don’t let your car’s manufacturer give you the runaround. Call us or reach out online today. And remember — you will never see a bill from The Barry Law Firm. Call now!
