If you have purchased or leased a motor vehicle in California that still has problems after multiple rounds of repair work, you may be due relief under our state’s Lemon Law. This law requires automotive manufacturers to buy back a vehicle if significant problems under the original warranty have not been resolved after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
At The Barry Law Firm, we understand the frustration and financial burden caused by a vehicle that has turned out to be a lemon. We focus exclusively on Lemon Law cases and have helped thousands of California consumers resolve Lemon Law claims to their satisfaction.
An experienced California Lemon Law attorney from The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles can guide you through the steps required of a Lemon Law claim, including helping you document your vehicle’s issues and advocating for you with the auto manufacturer and in court.
Contact us today for FAST & FREE consultation about a potential Lemon Law claim.
What You Need for a Successful Lemon Law Claim
To pursue a Lemon Law claim, you must:
- Have a qualifying defect – Under the law, a qualifying defect is one that substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
- Be covered under warranty – Review your car’s warranty to confirm that the original manufacturer’s warranty covers the problem you plan to base your claim on. Keep in mind that the law does not apply to repairs covered by an extended warranty. The defect must have first occurred during the original warranty period, even if it has since expired.
- Give reasonable opportunity – You have to give the manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to repair the defect. What is considered a reasonable number of repair attempts may vary from case to case. California’s Lemon Law usually allows two or more attempts to fix the problem if it poses a significant danger. If the problem is less severe, manufacturers may be entitled to more than two attempts. In certain circumstances, your vehicle may automatically qualify as a lemon if it’s out of service for an inordinate amount of time.
A Lemon Law case is built on records of repair attempts, the costs you have incurred due to loss of use of your vehicle, and correspondence between you and the dealership. You’ll need documentation of these transactions and contact, including:
- The vehicle’s purchase or lease contract
- Car loan documents
- The manufacturer’s warranty
- Repair orders
- Invoices for repair work performed
- Bank records or other proof of your down payment and payments on your loan
- Receipts for license and registration fees, sales tax, repairs, and collateral costs, such as towing and alternative transportation
- Letters, emails, and texts exchanged with the dealership or manufacturer
If you can show the manufacturer or court that your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, California’s Lemon Law allows you to demand a refund. You may also recover compensation for the incidental costs of dealing with a faulty vehicle, such as repair payments, towing fees, or a rental car. If you think you have a viable Lemon Law claim, you should gather all relevant documents and contact a qualified California Lemon Law attorney.
At The Barry Law Firm, we can determine whether you have a Lemon Law claim that could be successful. If you engage us, we can make sure that your claim meets the manufacturer’s and the law’s requirements for pursuing relief. We will stand up for you, including by shouldering the burden of all additional contact with the dealership or manufacturer.
The Lemon Law Process in California
There are a few steps involved with pursuing a successful California Lemon Law claim.
File a Lawsuit
Once your Lemon Law attorney determines you have a valid case, they can move forward with your claim. If the manufacturer cannot resolve the problem, The Barry Law Firm can file a Lemon Law claim on your behalf demanding legal relief.
Gather Evidence
As your attorneys, we would be able to obtain any missing documents the manufacturer or their dealership own. We can arrange for any expert witnesses needed to examine your vehicle and testify about its unresolved problems. Our team would also research similar cases and recalls for evidence supporting your case. We would then organize your claim into a solid and persuasive argument for compensating you.
Negotiate a Settlement
As both sides go through the litigation process, the strength of your case will become more obvious. During this period, we will be in touch with your vehicle’s manufacturer and may be able to negotiate a settlement.
If we can settle, we will avoid having to go to trial, and the agreed-upon compensation will be in your hands almost immediately. We will present all reasonable settlement offers to you with our advice, but whether to settle will always be your decision. Formal and informal negotiations typically continue throughout the life of a case, and a claim may be settled at any time before a verdict.
Go to Court
Sometimes, the manufacturer will refuse to offer a fair settlement, and we have to go to trial to get the compensation you’re owed. If that happens, each side will have the opportunity to present its case and witnesses and cross-examine the other side’s witnesses.
Our objective will be to recover all of the compensation available to you in a California Lemon Law claim. We will calculate all of your costs and losses to maximize your recovery – and we will not charge you for our efforts.
California’s Lemon Law requires vehicle manufacturers to pay the consumer’s legal fees as part of a successful claim. The Barry Law Firm never charges for the legal work we provide to car owners or lessees – no matter the outcome. If we cannot win your case, we won’t expect to be paid.
Tips for Winning a Lemon Law Case
There are a few ways you can help your California Lemon Law case:
- Have a qualified lawyer on your side – Your Lemon Law attorney’s skill and experience level can significantly impact the outcome of your case. You want an attorney who has a deep understanding of California’s Lemon Law and has successfully resolved these cases before. A skilled negotiator and litigator who can fight against the manufacturer’s tactics is also essential. Their legal representation can be the push the manufacturer needs to do the right thing and buy back your vehicle.
- Don’t wait to contact an attorney – It is important to note that the California Lemon Law does have a statute of limitations. That means you have a limited amount of time to file a Lemon Law claim against a manufacturer, so don’t hesitate to contact a Lemon Law attorney to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines.
- Save all your documentation – A successful Lemon Law claim requires evidence supporting your claim. You must show you have a substantial defect, give the manufacturer notice, and allow them a reasonable number of attempts to fix it. You will also need proof of your related expenses to be reimbursed. Hold onto all of your correspondence with the dealership and receipts for any repairs or other costs.
The experienced Lemon Law attorneys at The Barry Law Firm can help you seek the maximum compensation available under California’s Lemon Law. While we can’t guarantee any results, we successfully resolve 99% of our cases. Our team has the experience, knowledge, and resources needed to succeed. One client we successfully helped says our attorney’s “intelligence, charismatic personality, confidence, and extensive knowledge of the law made this whole process a piece of cake.” We have a reputation for forcing powerful manufacturers to repurchase defective vehicles, and we’ll use it to your advantage – just like we have for thousands of other consumers like you.
If You Need Help with a Lemon, Call Today for a Free Consultation!
Don’t take on the stress and burden of handling a California Lemon Law claim on your own. At The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles, we have focused solely on Lemon Law claims since 2010. Let us put our knowledge of California’s complex Lemon Law statutes and requirements and our experience dealing with car manufacturers to work for you. We’ll help you demand full compensation for what you’ve gone through with your defective vehicle.
Contact us today for a fast, free, no-obligation consultation about getting rid of your faulty vehicle and recovering all the money you have sunk into it.
