Southern California Lemon Law Attorney

Southern California Lemon Lawyer

When a vehicle is purchased in the state of California, the individual who has made the purchase is entitled to some of the strongest consumer protection regulations in the nation. If you have purchased a vehicle and have found that it suffers from numerous defects, you might be entitled to file a claim for compensation. At Lemon Law Pro, our Southern California Lemon Law attorneys are eager to work with you to ensure you receive the justice you are due.

Lemon Law Pro is pleased to provide our legal services to all of Southern California. Our California Lemon Law attorneys look forward to helping residents in areas including but not limited to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, Anaheim, Apple Valley, Inland Empire, Irvine, Orange, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Temecula, Carlsbad, Escondido and San Diego.

What Is Lemon Law in California?

In the state of California, the term “Lemon Law” refers to a number of laws put in place in order to protect certain consumers. This body of legislation found its nickname due to people referring to their troublesome vehicles as “lemons.” These vehicles are a financial burden on their owners and can pose many safety hazards to the individuals who own them and other drivers on the roadways.

In the state of California, a “lemon” can be any car, truck, SUV, van, motorcycle, or RV, as well as some business-owned vehicles and boats. Typically, this vehicle must be under warranty but can apply to both purchased and leased vehicles. Under these laws, it is your consumer’s right to be able to purchase a safe vehicle free of defects.

If you find that you have purchased a lemon with several defects or malfunctions and your dealer or manufacturer refuses to do anything about it, it is time to contact an experienced Lemon Law attorney.

Lemon Law Pro: Our Legal Services Available to You

As a firm that exclusively practices in the area of California Lemon Law, we are well-versed in the complexities of the law and provide you with exceptional representation. Our goal is to provide the highest level of skill and services to our clients. The best part is that these services are provided at absolutely no cost to our clients.

We make it simple and easy for you to contact us. Simply fill out our online form or give us a call. Our consultations are free and generally occur over the telephone. Also, you can submit your documents for attorney review via email, fax, or mail. Our goal is to try to make this experience for you as easy and convenient as we can.

Due to all of your documents being able to be sent to us by email, fax, or mail, it is not necessary for you to take time out of your busy life to meet in person. In fact, most of our California Lemon Law cases are settled without physical meetings being required.  If an in person meeting is required, we would be happy to make travel arrangements to come meet with you in your local area at no cost to you.

Does Your Vehicle Qualify as a Lemon?

The first question you might find yourself asking is if your car is a lemon. The laws outlined in the California legislature have strict guidelines as to what does and does not qualify as a lemon vehicle. One of the most important of these guidelines is the fact that cars sold under private sellers are not protected. Secondly, you can only qualify for Lemon Law if your vehicle failed within the first 18 months of purchasing the vehicle and within 18,000 miles on the odometer.

Lastly, the vehicle you have purchased must be proven to have a “nonconformity” or a defect that is likely to result in the death or serious injury of an individual if someone were to drive the vehicle. Something simple, such as a defect with the car’s radio, will most likely not qualify your vehicle as a lemon.

Common safety issues that can qualify your vehicle as a lemon can include the following:

• Faulty and defective breaks
• Problems with the steering of the vehicle
• A stalling engine
• A bad or defective starter
• A battery that is unreliable
• A transmission deemed defective
• Defective safety equipment that cannot be replaced or repaired, such as seatbelts or airbags
• Issues with certain electrical systems of the vehicle

If your vehicle is experiencing any of these issues, you most likely have a lemon on your hands. When these situations arise, they can be frustrating, not to mention financially draining. In these times, it is imperative that you contact a Lemon Law attorney who services individuals statewide. You shouldn’t have to deal with a vehicle that causes more harm than it helps. Instead, you need someone ready to fight for your deserved compensation.

What You May Be Entitled to if Your Car Is a Lemon

In a compensation claim for a lemon vehicle, there are many things you might be entitled to receive. These damages tend to depend on the nature of the defect that impacts your purchased car, truck, SUV, or other motorized vehicle. In the state of California, if you are the original buyer of the vehicle, you may be entitled to a refund of the following:

• The full balance of your vehicle loan
• The down payment you made for the vehicle and any monthly payments you have made thus far
• Any collateral charges such as finance charges, sales tax, and any service contracts or prorated registration
• Any expenses proved to be a direct result of your vehicle being a lemon, such as rental car costs or tow truck bills

If you have leased a lemon vehicle in the state of California, you might be entitled to the following:

• Any down payment you have made
• Any monthly lease payments
• The remaining lease payments for the vehicle
• Any expenses that are deemed a direct consequence of the lemon, such as rental car costs or tow truck bills
• Any collateral charges for the vehicle, such as sales tax, service contracts, prorated registration, or finance charges

Southern California Lemon Law FAQs

Q: Who Pays Attorney Fees Under California Lemon Law?

A: Under California’s Lemon Law, you do not have to pay any attorney fees when working to get compensation for your defective vehicle. Instead, the consumer protection laws ensure that the vehicle’s manufacturer is responsible for all of the consumer’s attorney fees, court costs, and expenses when the consumer prevails in a claim for compensation.

Q: How Many Attempts Are Allowed for the Lemon Law in California?

A: In the state of California, Lemon Law states that the dealership or manufacturer must be given a “reasonable” number of attempts at addressing the issues or defects before the consumer can file a claim for compensation. Ensure that you document all your concerns with the vehicle and stay consistent with your records, as this can help prove that a reasonable number of repair attempts were made and the issue was still not addressed.

Q: Can I Still Pursue a Lemon Law Claim if I Have Modified My Vehicle?

A: In the state of California, if you have modified your vehicle in any way, you may no longer qualify to file a Lemon Law claim, depending on a few factors. You may still be able to file a claim if the modifications made are unrelated to the defect you are experiencing, such as adding a new paint color to the outside of the vehicle. However, if the modification has added or caused the defect, this could affect your claim.

Q: Do You Need a Lawyer for a Lemon Law Claim in California?

A: While a lawyer is not necessarily required to file a Lemon Law claim for compensation in California, they can be essential to securing a positive outcome for your case. Your Lemon Law Pro attorney can work hard to gather the evidence necessary to prove your claim in court and can assist you in navigating these complicated legal matters.

Contact a Skilled Southern California Lemon Law Attorney Today

If you have purchased or leased a vehicle in the state of California that is experiencing certain defects and your dealer or the vehicle’s manufacturer is doing nothing about it, it’s time to retain the services of a skilled Southern California Lemon Law attorney who can assist you in filing a claim for compensation with no costs involved. At Lemon Law Pro, our attorneys have a vast knowledge of California consumer protection laws and are ready to work for you.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us today.