Delano Lemon Law Attorney

Lemon Law Lawyer in Delano, CA

The lemon law in California is designed to protect consumers from defective cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs. It applies to all passenger vehicles sold by dealerships to consumers, but manufacturers can be hesitant to pay out on legitimate lemon law claims. That’s where a Delano lemon law attorney comes in.

The skilled team at Lemon Law Pro knows how to handle defective vehicle claims. We know what kinds of defects qualify under California’s lemon law, how long you must file your claim, and what it takes to undergo successful mediation procedures or litigate your case in court if needed.

Hire a Lemon Law Attorney

There are millions of vehicles purchased every year in Delano and California. This trend can be seen in the number of new registrations each month. Approximately 22,000 vehicles, however, turned out to be lemons, including one out of every 78 General Motors vehicles and one out of every 107 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles cars.

This shows a number of defective vehicles, and it doesn’t capture anticipated changes related to the recent passing of AB 1755, a bill designed to streamline the claim-filing process.

While you don’t technically need to enlist legal help to file a claim under California’s lemon law, it’s a good idea to hire a lemon law attorney. AB 1755 doesn’t just streamline the claim-filing process. It also adds some extra complications, including strict deadlines that must be met to avoid voiding your claim and mandatory arbitration procedures. Your lawyer can help you:

• Determine whether your car is a lemon
• Submit the required paperwork to the manufacturer
• File your official claim and additional paperwork
• Gather evidence to support your claim
• Engage in mediation proceedings as required under AB 1755
• Negotiate a favorable settlement with the manufacturer
• Provide courtroom representation should it become necessary

It’s important that you stay on top of deadlines and provide adequate proof that you have attempted to have the problem repaired. Your lawyer can help with these and other important details.

Classifying a Car As a Lemon

A car is considered a lemon in California if it experiences a non-repairable manufacturer’s defect within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles of purchasing the new or certified pre-owned vehicle from a dealership.

The defect must be substantial enough to affect the vehicle’s use, safety, or value, and the manufacturer must have had at least two attempts to resolve a severe defect or four attempts to resolve a less serious problem. Common examples of issues that fall under the lemon law include:

• Engine issues
• Transmission problems
• Electrical system malfunctions
• Steering or suspension issues
• Brake problems
• AC or heating system defects
• Fuel delivery issues
• Inoperable safety equipment
• Defective bodywork
• Issues with audio or navigation systems

As you can see, California’s lemon law covers everything from very serious problems to minor issues that affect the car’s value but not its use. If you’re not sure whether your vehicle’s defect is covered, contact a lemon law attorney.

Available Compensation

If the manufacturer has already made the required number of attempts to fix the problem or has held your car for more than 30 days for repairs, you can file a lemon law claim following the submission of a mandatory written communication with the manufacturer. Lemon law claims aren’t like other civil claims, though. You can’t recover additional damages. Instead, the lemon law offers compensation in the form of:

• A replacement vehicle
• A refund of the purchase price of the vehicle, minus any wear and tear you put on it before the defect arose
• The cost of any attorney’s fees

Most of the time, you can negotiate a settlement with the automotive manufacturer without having to go to court. Recent legislation under AB 1755 requires mandatory mediation proceedings to take place before you can file a civil suit. If you can’t come to a favorable agreement during mediation, you may still need to go to court.

FAQs About Delano Lemon Law

How Is the Lemon Law Buyback Amount Calculated in California?

The lemon law buyback amount is calculated in California by subtracting a mileage offset and incidental costs like rentals and towing from the total purchase price of the vehicle. The purchase price includes not just the price of the vehicle but also any taxes, registration, fees, and finance charges that were included.

How Long Does the Lemon Law Process Take in California?

The length of time the lemon law process takes in California depends on whether the manufacturer wants to settle immediately or if you need to go through the mediation process or take your case to court. The manufacturer is required to issue a refund or replace your vehicle within 60 days if they don’t plan to dispute your claim. If they dispute it, it could take months to complete the process.

What Are the Common Pitfalls of Lemon Law Claims?

Common pitfalls of lemon law claims in California include missing deadlines, failing to get the defects listed on service records, accepting verbal promises from dealerships or manufacturers, and accepting a quick settlement without first seeking the advice of a Delano lemon lawyer. A lemon law attorney can help you avoid all the most common pitfalls associated with filing this type of claim.

What Evidence Do I Need for the CA Lemon Law?

The evidence you need for the CA lemon law includes proof that the manufacturer was unable to repair a substantial defect under the car’s warranty. You’ll likely need detailed repair records, your purchase or lease agreement, the warranty, logs of your expenses and mileage, and copies of all communications with the manufacturer. Photos or videos of the damage can also help.

Delano Lemon Law Attorney

If you’re looking for a skilled Delano lemon law attorney, your search is over. The team at Lemon Law Pro has years of experience in handling lemon law cases. We’re up to date on all the recent changes to California’s lemon law and know how to handle difficult manufacturers when they don’t want to comply with all the relevant legislation. We can help you get your defective car replaced or refunded at no cost to you. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation.