California’s Lemon Law protects consumers who have purchased or leased faulty vehicles. The law requires car manufacturers to buy back their vehicle if the manufacturer has been unable to resolve significant warranty-covered problems.
As you may expect, no car manufacturer wants to buy back a vehicle it has sold. To avoid this cost, they employ teams of lawyers to fight Lemon Law claims. This makes it crucial for a consumer burdened with a lemon to engage an attorney to handle their case – particularly if they must go to court. At The Barry Law Firm, we’ve helped thousands of California consumers resolve Lemon Law claims to their satisfaction. We focus exclusively on Lemon Law cases and have a long track record of vindicating consumers given the runaround by big auto manufacturers.
Contact us today for aggressive advocacy as your California Lemon Law claim goes to court. We’ll manage all of the details of your case from start to finish — all at no cost to you.
A Rundown of The Lemon Law Court Process in California
Many California Lemon Law lawsuits can be settled, but some require going to trial. There are several steps before a lawsuit goes to trial, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, and motions.
Once we get to trial, each side has the opportunity to present its case and witnesses and to cross-examine the other side’s witnesses. When both sides have completed their presentations, each team of attorneys has a final opportunity to persuade the judge or jury in their closing arguments.
To win a Lemon Law claim in California, you must prove the following:
- Defective vehicle: The vehicle has a serious safety defect that substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, safety, or value.
- Caused by the manufacturer: The defect was not caused by the owner’s abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications.
- Under warranty: The defect is covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty.
- Unresolved despite repair attempts: You gave the manufacturer or authorized dealership a reasonable opportunity to repair the defect, which can vary. This can mean two or more attempts if the defect poses a significant danger – or more for less severe defects. In certain circumstances, your vehicle may automatically qualify as a lemon if it’s out of service for an inordinate amount of time.
To build your case, you would need documentation of the vehicle’s defects, repair attempts, and repair invoices showing ongoing, unrepaired issues with your car. As your attorneys, we would be able to help assemble documents the manufacturer or their dealership has. We could also arrange for an expert witness to examine your vehicle and testify about its lingering problems.
How a California Lemon Law Lawyer Can Help You in Court
If going to court is necessary, we will be prepared to present a fully documented Lemon Law claim on your behalf. Preparations for a courtroom trial include:
- Case evaluation: In addition to being able to prove your car meets the definition of a lemon under California law, you must have purchased or leased your vehicle in California.
- Negotiations: As both sides prepare for your lawsuit to go to court, we can often negotiate a settlement and avoid going to trial with a strong case. We will present all reasonable settlement offers to you with our advice, but whether to settle will be your decision. A case may be settled at any time before the jury returns a verdict.
- Case preparation and presentation: Our task is to persuade a jury that you deserve the legal relief you demand. This involves not just gathering documents but presenting evidence in the form of a compelling and persuasive story.
- Legal argument: Your attorneys must also anticipate the manufacturer’s argument in its defense and counter it effectively. This requires understanding the intricacies of California’s Lemon Law and staying up to date on relevant case law.
The Benefits of Legal Representation in a Lemon Law Case
The simple truth is that you will fare better if an experienced California Lemon Law attorney with litigation experience handles your claim. At The Barry Law Firm, we can help you build a solid claim, determine the most advantageous approach to stating your case in court, and aggressively pursue your goals. Having a skilled Lemon Law claim attorney in your corner levels the playing field as you face off with legal representatives of what may be one of the country’s largest corporations.
We will work to ensure you pursue the maximum compensation available to you under California law. In addition to a refund of what you have paid for the vehicle, you also have a right to recover all related expenses for towing, rental cars, and other out-of-pocket costs incurred due to the manufacturer’s defective vehicle.
The Barry Law Firm only handles California Lemon Law cases. An attorney from our firm knows the frustration of dealing with a lemon, and we will do everything we can to make things right for you. Plus, we’ll fight for you at no cost to you. California’s Lemon Law requires the vehicle manufacturer to pay the consumer’s legal fees after a successful claim. The Barry Law Firm never charges for the legal work we do for car owners or lessees, no matter the outcome.
If you engage The Barry Law Firm to pursue a California Lemon Law claim for you, we will do it focused on winning the case and demanding full compensation for you – and we will not charge you a cent to do it.
If You Need Help with a Lemon, Call Today for a Free Consultation
If you have had enough of car troubles and the dealership’s excuses about failed repair attempts, The Barry Law Firm can help you exercise your rights under the California Lemon Law. Our team has the knowledge, experience, and dedication needed to stop the abuse. We’ll help you demand all of the money you’ve spent on your defective vehicle.
Contact The Barry Law Firm today for a fast and free consultation as you pursue a California Lemon Law claim.
