How to Choose a Top California Lemon Law Attorney

How to Choose the Top California Lemon Law Attorney

Lemon law attorneys in California are paid directly by the manufacturer.

Don’t Take on Auto Manufacturers Alone

In a perfect world, you could call up General Motors to ask for your money back or a replacement for your defective Chevrolet Malibu.

But this isn’t a perfect world and the $29 billion automotive industry has no plans to refund customers or replace problematic cars and trucks any time soon.

Indeed, last year, the auto industry sold 15.5 million vehicles, up 11.6% from 13.9 million vehicles sold in 2022.

However, these same automakers also issued 320 recalls in 2023 for roughly 32 million vehicles — down from 932 recalls in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most of last year’s recalls were 6.3 million Honda vehicles, followed by 5.9 million from Ford and 3.1 million Kia vehicles.

Generally speaking, most new vehicles won’t experience problems for years to come, but it does happen and that’s why car companies have warranties and the lemon law is there to make sure they are enforced.

So how do you make a claim? Do you call up Elon Musk and request a refund for your Tesla Cybertruck? Most likely you are going to find it difficult to negotiate a settlement directly with the auto manufacturer because most will deny culpability no matter how valid your claim is. That’s because they have the power and the rest of us don’t.

Lemon Law Attorney

California car owners have many choices when it comes to finding the right Lemon Law Attorney.

Indeed, there are roughly 167,709 licensed and active attorneys practicing in California, but just a small percentage of them specialize in lemon law cases.

According to AVVO, there are only 233 attorneys in the Golden State who primarily handle lemon law cases.

Finding the right lemon law attorney to handle your case starts by asking them if you have a viable case. If you purchased your vehicle in California, you will need to hire an attorney licensed in California. Furthermore, the defective vehicle must still be covered by the original factory warranty and you must be the original owner. If you purchased the vehicle used, the lemon law will not apply. The California Lemon Law was designed to protect the consumer and enforce the original factory warranty.

Attorneys are able to help a consumer who purchases or leases a new vehicle and then discovers it has significant defects that impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle is eligible to make a claim.

Top California Lemon Law Lawyer Checklist:

  • Free Consultation: Attorneys who specialize in lemon law cases should offer a free consultation.
  • Attorneys Fees: Under California lemon law, the attorney’s fees are paid directly by the manufacturer and the money does not come out of your settlement.
  • Ask the attorney if there are any costs or out-of-pocket expenses paid by the client.
  • Make sure the attorney is licensed to practice in California and find out if they have been disciplined for any violations of the state bar.
  • Experience: The more cases an attorney handles, the more experience they have and the better they will be able to negotiate a settlement in your favor.
  • Auto Manufacturer: Ask the attorney if they have negotiated a settlement with your specific auto manufacturer, what models the brand has had problems with in the past and what hurdles they can expect.

Lemon Law Basics:

Most attorneys will not represent a car owner unless their vehicle has a “substantial impairment” that affects its value, use or presents a concern for the driver’s safety.

Consumers have an obligation to bring their vehicle to the dealer for repairs and give them at least four attempts or a reasonable amount of time to fix the problem.

California Lemon Law Lawyer James Johnson 1-(877) 465-8161

Tesla Autopilot May Fail to Detect Motorcycles, Feds Investigating

Is it time to break up with your car? Are you tired of repeated problems such as electrical issues, engine problems, or a dangerous safety issue? If that sounds familiar, you don’t have to wait for a recall before you reach out to an experienced attorney and get help. California Lemon Law Attorney James Johnson will review your case and let you know if it qualifies as a lemon.

We highly recommend car owners with steering, engine or other problems obtain invoices for all repairs and recall visits from the dealership. These documents will support your potential case. Should the vehicle experience repeated issues or become a safety risk, these documents support the Lemon Law Claim. Contact us for a free case review at 1-(877) 465-8161 or read on for answers to frequently asked questions. 

Published on Feb. 7, 2024

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about vehicles that may be covered by the California lemon law. However, the lemon law has very specific requirements that must be met for your vehicle to be considered a lemon. Every case has a unique set of circumstances and there are specific criteria that must be met for the lemon law to apply. It is imperative that you take immediate action if you believe your vehicle may qualify.

 

James Johnson ESQ
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