If your business owns or leases a vehicle, issues with that vehicle can create significant disruptions to your company’s operations. Sometimes, these vehicle problems are rooted in serious defects. If the vehicle’s manufacturer tries to address a severe warranty-covered issue multiple times without success, your business may be eligible for legal relief under the California Lemon Law.
Many people know California’s Lemon Law applies to personal vehicles. However, most aren’t aware that the law also protects vehicles used for commercial purposes – provided they meet specific criteria and are still covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty.
An experienced California commercial vehicle Lemon Law attorney from The Barry Law Firm can help your company. We have focused exclusively on Lemon Law claims since 2010, serving commercial clients who are dealing with lemon vehicles in Los Angeles and throughout California. Our skilled team is here to explain your rights and legal options to get rid of your business’s problem vehicle. Contact us today for a FAST & FREE case review with a commercial vehicle Lemon Law attorney to get started.
Does the California Lemon Law Cover Commercial Vehicles in Los Angeles?
The California Lemon Law protects commercial vehicles in Los Angeles that have substantial defects covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty despite the manufacturer making a reasonable number of repair attempts. However, a business vehicle must meet specific requirements set by the Lemon Law to be eligible for a claim.
Commercial Vehicle Requirements Under the Lemon Law
A commercial vehicle can qualify for Lemon Law protection in Los Angeles when a business or professional purchases or leases a vehicle in California if:
- The vehicle is primarily for use in a business with a fleet of five or fewer vehicles registered in the state.
- The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) rating of less than 10,000 pounds.
- It has a defect that substantially impacts its use, value, or safety.
- The defect is covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty and started during the warranty period.
- The vehicle’s manufacturer cannot fix the problem after a reasonable number of repair attempts.
What is considered a “reasonable” number of attempts will vary from case to case. However, when a defect creates a safety risk, two or more attempts may be enough. Less severe defects may require additional attempts. A defect may also qualify if it keeps the vehicle out of service for an excessive amount of time.
An experienced attorney from The Barry Law Firm can help you determine whether your business’s vehicle meets the requirements under California’s Lemon Law for commercial vehicles.
Types of Commercial Vehicles Covered Under the Lemon Law
Examples of commercial vehicles that fall within the scope of the California Lemon Law include:
- Cars, such as sedans used for livery services
- Pickup trucks used for carrying work equipment or towing
- Vans, such as passenger vans used as commercial shuttles
- SUVs used for passenger transport or as utility work vehicles
Lemon Law Remedies for Defective Commercial Vehicles
Under the Lemon Law, an owner or lessee of a qualifying commercial lemon vehicle may have the right to demand that the manufacturer buy the defective vehicle back and reimburse them for the money they’ve sunk into it, including:
- Purchase or lease price, including the down payment, monthly loan or lease payments, and the remaining balance of the car loan
- Collateral charges, including sales or use taxes, license and registration fees, and other official fees
- Incidental costs, including repairs, towing, and rental cars or other alternative transportation
California law also requires manufacturers to reimburse vehicle owners or lessees for their attorney’s fees and legal costs in a successful Lemon Law claim. And at The Barry Law Firm, we never charge clients for our representation, regardless of the outcome of their claim. That means there’s no financial risk to pursue the relief you deserve.
Common Commercial Vehicle Defects That May Warrant a Lemon Law Claim
A commercial vehicle can become eligible for a Lemon Law claim when it experiences a severe defect covered by the original warranty that the manufacturer cannot fix after having a reasonable opportunity. However, the defect must significantly affect the vehicle’s safety, use, or value. Common defects that can lead to a Lemon Law claim in Los Angeles include:
- Engine defects, such as overheating, stalling, seizing, rough idling, sudden acceleration, or inability to start
- Transmission issues, such as slipping gear, failure to shift into gear, or shifting out of gear or park
- Electrical problems, including nonfunctioning interior or exterior lights, malfunctioning infotainment screens, defective exterior sensors, electrical shorts, or rapidly discharging batteries
- Steering issues, such as loss of power steering or detaching steering wheels
- Brake issues, such as loss of braking power or premature wear and tear of brake pads and rotors
- Climate control problems, including the inability to blow hot or cold air or failure to change fan speeds
- Vehicle body issues, such as excessive cracking or peeling paint or water intrusion due to problems with window or door seals
The Lemon Law Claim Process for Commercial Vehicles
The process of filing a Lemon Law claim in Los Angeles for a commercial vehicle typically looks like the following:
- Getting warranty repairs – It begins with taking the vehicle to the manufacturer or authorized dealer for attempted repairs of an in-warranty defect. The Lemon Law gives manufacturers a reasonable number of repair attempts before a defect makes a vehicle a lemon. The Lemon Law does not count repair attempts made by independent auto shops.
- Gathering documentation – Detailed records are crucial for supporting your Lemon Law case. When you take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for repairs, you should keep copies of all repair records to establish their repair attempts. Take photos or videos of visible defects to document them. Start collecting records related to your financial losses, as well.
- Contacting an experienced attorney – When standing up against large auto manufacturers and their legal teams, you need your own skilled legal representation to advocate for your company’s interests. A California Lemon Law attorney can guide you through each step of filing a claim from start to finish. They can help you compile your documentation into a strong case, fight for the relief you need, and protect your rights throughout the process.
- Filing a Lemon Law claim – After the manufacturer has failed to resolve your commercial vehicle’s defect after multiple repair attempts, your attorney can help you file a Lemon Law claim with the manufacturer and begin negotiations to seek a resolution. If the manufacturer refuses a fair settlement, your lawyer will be prepared to take your claim to court to demand the financial recovery you deserve.
What Proof Is Needed for a Commercial Vehicle Lemon Law Claim?
When you file a Lemon Law claim for a commercial vehicle in California, you must present the manufacturer with sufficient evidence to prove that your vehicle qualifies under the law. Evidence you may need to support your commercial vehicle Lemon Law claim includes:
- Pictures or videos of visible defects
- Diagnostic reports
- Repair orders
- Purchase or lease documents
- Receipts for loan or lease payments
- Receipts for payment of sales taxes or registration fees
- Bills, invoices, or receipts for towing or repairs
- Car rental invoices or receipts for alternative transportation expenses
The Importance of Hiring a California Lemon Law Attorney
Manufacturers often drag their heels and delay Lemon Law claims, hoping to pressure you into abandoning your claim or accepting less than the fair value. Hiring a Los Angeles Lemon Law attorney from The Barry Law Firm can help by providing you with experienced advice and advocacy as you pursue your claim. An attorney can assist with your Lemon Law claim by:
- Reviewing the facts of your case to determine your eligibility for a Lemon Law claim
- Helping you assemble the documentation and evidence needed to build your case
- Documenting your financial losses from your vehicle’s defects to help you seek maximum compensation
- Communicating with the vehicle manufacturer on your behalf to pursue a fair settlement of your Lemon Law claim
- Taking your case to court if the manufacturer won’t agree to a settlement to hold the company accountable for your defective vehicle
Having legal counsel can prevent an auto manufacturer from pushing you around when you assert your rights under the Lemon Law. And remember: you’ll never pay anything for our services at The Barry Law Firm.
The Barry Law Firm Is Ready to Help with Your Los Angeles Lemon Law Claim
Don’t let your business suffer because of a lemon commercial vehicle. If one of your business’s vehicles suffers a severe warranty-covered defect that the manufacturer cannot resolve after multiple repair attempts, you may have the right to demand legal relief under California’s commercial Lemon Law protections. Contact The Barry Law Firm today for a FAST & FREE consultation with an experienced Lemon Law attorney to discuss how our firm can help you pursue justice.
