California’s Lemon Law protects consumers who have purchased or leased vehicles with warranty-covered issues that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. It requires a defective vehicle’s manufacturer to buy back or replace a vehicle that qualifies as a “lemon” under the law.

The law also requires vehicle manufacturers to pay the consumer’s legal fees and other incidental costs after a successful Lemon Law claim. By engaging The Barry Law Firm, you can count on all of the paperwork for your claim being done correctly and receiving 100% of any actual damages we recover from a settlement or successful verdict.

Questions About Your Case

Do You Think My Vehicle Qualifies as a Lemon Under California Law?

A vehicle is considered a lemon in California if it has problems under warranty affecting its safety, value, or utility that cannot be corrected. A manufacturer (usually through a local dealership) must be allowed a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle before the consumer can file a claim.

A reasonable number of repairs can vary from case to case. If the defect poses a significant danger, California Lemon Law says two or more attempts to fix the problem are typically considered reasonable. For less severe issues, manufacturers may be entitled to more than two attempts. Your vehicle may automatically qualify as a lemon if it is out of service for an inordinate amount of time in certain circumstances.

What Documentation Should I Bring to My Consultation?

Documentation is key to a Lemon Law claim. When you call The Barry Law Firm for an initial consultation, you should try to have these documents handy:

• Purchase or Lease Agreement: This will document the price you agreed to pay for the vehicle and your down payment.
• Payment Booklet and Checks or Bank Records: These document what you have paid for the vehicle since the down payment.
• Other Receipts: Save receipts for towing, rental cars, and any other expenses. You may recover the incidental costs of your vehicle’s defects in a successful claim.
• Vehicle Registration: You’ll need this to legally identify the vehicle, prove ownership, and document its make, model, and year.
• Vehicle Warranty: You must show that the vehicle’s warranty covers the problem.
• Repair Orders: These will detail the problem(s) with your vehicle, your attempts to repair it, what work was done, and what you paid for it.
• Correspondence with the Manufacturer or Dealer: These can document the fact that all parties involved understand the ongoing issue with your vehicle.

What Are the Potential Outcomes of My Lemon Law Case?

You have a few options for resolving your California Lemon Law claim:

• Refund: In a Lemon Law buyback, the manufacturer must refund the money you spent to purchase the vehicle. This includes down payments, monthly payments, sales taxes, finance charges, license fees, registration fees, and other official fees. They will also have to pay off the balance of any loans or leases on the vehicle.
• normally come with new motor vehicles of that specific make and model.
• Reimbursement of expenses: A successful Lemon Law claim can also recover incidental costs, such as repair expenses, towing and rental car costs, and legal fees connected to the claim.

What Fees Do You Charge for Lemon Law Cases?

California’s Lemon Law requires the vehicle manufacturer to pay all of your legal fees if your claim is successful, including:

• Attorneys’ fees
• Court filing fees
• Expert witness fees, such as when an expert is needed to explain transmission problems in court

As a client of The Barry Law Firm, you will never see a bill for our legal services, nor will we take a percentage of the actual damages we recover for you.

How Long Will My Lemon Law Case Take?

The timeline for resolving a Lemon Law claim in California will vary from case to case. It can take anywhere from a few months to settle a straightforward claim to a longer period of time to settle or litigate a moderately complex case. A dispute over a vehicle’s multiple defects or complex legal issues could take a year or longer to resolve.

What Should I Do While My Lemon Law Case Is Ongoing?

As you pursue a Lemon Law claim, continue to use your vehicle as you normally would (if it’s possible and safe to do so). As you have new or recurring issues with your vehicle, be sure to document the problem and all repairs or repair attempts.

Maintain thorough records of every repair attempt, including dates, descriptions of the defects, odometer readings, and copies of repair orders.

Keep your Lemon Law attorney updated about any new problems with your car and your attempts to resolve them. Meanwhile, follow any instructions your attorney provides you about your claim. For example, respond promptly if your attorney asks for certain information or documentation.

Questions About Your Lemon Law Lawyer

As you consider a Lemon Law claim and engaging a law firm to help you, you may wonder what to ask a Lemon Law attorney. You should start by asking various firms about their success in handling Lemon Law cases. At The Barry Law Firm, our practice is focused solely on Lemon Law claims. We have a long track record of vindicating thousands of consumers who have been given the runaround by their vehicle’s dealership and manufacturer.

You’ll also want a lawyer with high ratings and solid reviews. What do our clients say about The Barry Law Firm? You can see for yourself by checking our 200+ Google reviews and 4.9-star average rating.

Learn more about The Barry Law Firm by scheduling a free consultation about your potential Lemon Law claim.

Also Consider These When Choosing a Lemon Law Attorney

There are several critical factors to consider when looking for the right Lemon Law attorney in California, including:

• Recommendations: Ask friends, family, and colleagues whether they have had any experience with a Lemon Law claim and can recommend an attorney. Personal recommendations from people you know and trust are a good place to start.
• Research: Look up recommended attorneys online or search for “California Lemon Law attorney.” Consider those whose websites look professional and clearly explain what they do and who they are. Search for Google reviews under the law firm’s name.
• Consultations: Most Lemon Law attorneys offer a free initial consultation with no further obligation. Take a few meetings with several different firms. Make sure you are meeting with someone who is experienced with California Lemon Law claims. You should come away feeling like you have received some good advice with no pressure to sign on for legal services.
• Qualifications: Confirm that they are a member of the State Bar of California. All lawyers in California must be certified by the State Bar to provide legal services to the public.
• Communication: You should hire an attorney who will keep you informed throughout the Lemon Law claim process. Your attorney should listen to your concerns and answer your questions promptly in language you can understand. You should always feel comfortable asking your attorney questions.
• Availability: Ask about their caseload. Make sure you hire an attorney who will be available to you and to take on your case.
• Cost: Question how they charge. California law says that a successful Lemon Law claim will cover the consumer’s costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees. Some California lawyers take Lemon Law cases on a contingency fee basis, which means they take a pre-stated percentage of the money they recover for you.

We Can Help with Your Lemon Law Case

An experienced California Lemon Law attorney from The Barry Law Firm in Los Angeles, CA, can help you pursue a Lemon Law claim. We focus solely on Lemon Law cases on behalf of consumers throughout California. We’ll handle all of the work required for your claim and can do it via email or fax, so you don’t have to come to our office. Another benefit of working with us is that our law firm will never bill you for our legal services or take a percentage of your actual damages.

If you have a faulty vehicle, contact us now to schedule a FAST & FREE case evaluation. Let us explain how we’ll help you pursue the money you’ve sunk into a defective vehicle and make the manufacturers pay your legal fees.