Many people spend their life savings on big purchases like cars, so it’s only natural that they get the best in the market. This is one of the most important buying decisions that require careful consideration, and it’s essential not to get pressured by someone else. See more about buying a car on this page.
After deciding which car fits your lifestyle and needs, you need to determine whether you’re going for used or new. However, before buying or leasing these vehicles, you need to compare prices from sources like news ads, the internet, and vehicle pricing articles from magazines.
Before signing into the fine print, read and understand the fees, prices, finance charges, and warranty. This is where so many car owners are unaware of the lemon law until they notice a lot of issues in their newly-purchased vehicle.
What is the Lemon Law?
The lemon law was created to protect the buyers from defective products, which generally cover most automobiles. This covers a lot of SUVs, trucks, sedans, and others that have known factory defects while still under warranty. mIn junk shops, the term lemon usually means something useless or a junk car that can’t be used. It’s also a vehicle that does nothing and has a lot of problems.
This does not just happen with the used cars but with the new models as well. Find yourself getting stuck on the expressway because of your new vehicle breaking down, or you’ve noticed that you’ve been to the automotive repair shops twice a week because of the issues that keep repeating. It might be time to hire a lawyer in California to get a refund.
Manufacturers’ Service Contracts and Warranties
Many new cars come with warranties, which are considered a part of the price. The dealers might also have warranty extensions and service contracts for both used and new automobiles. Others make good with their protection, and they do so at a very affordable price, while so many of them have exclusions on the package that makes the warranty worthless.
Since the laws regarding the warranty are complicated, it’s highly advisable to consult a professional attorney specializing in these kinds of cases. The lawyers will generally give you a CA Lemon Law guide and determine if you’re qualified to file a claim. Here are other things to know when you’re living in California.
About the California Lemon Law
This law is Civ. Code § 1793.2 et seq. is designed to protect consumers who have purchased defective vehicles that cannot get repaired even if the buyer has made a lot of “reasonable” attempts.
This can be applied to the new cars that are being leased or that have been purchased and are still under warranty. All Armed Forces residing or stationed in California at the time of buying are protected by the law, which is also applied to the used cars that are still under warranty.
Under this law, the manufacturer must replace the car with a new one or buy it back whenever possible. What others consider as a substantial number of repair attempts can depend on various factors like the following:
- The owner first notices the issue within the first 18 months of owning the vehicle or within the first 18,000 miles
- As stated in the manual, the owner notifies the manufacturers about this issue;
They have taken the car to the repair shop that’s authorized by the dealership in the following span:
- Experienced the same problem more than twice. This issue is big enough to cause serious injury to the driver or even cause death to anyone on the road, but this was still not successfully addressed, or
- The car was not used because it’s been in the repair shop for over 30 days. These days don’t have to be consecutive.
These are signs that the car is considered a lemon, and the manufacturer should replace or repurchase it immediately. In these cases, you get an instant replacement or choose to get a refund. Anything that has been resold by the manufacturer and is considered a lemon car should be labeled accordingly. They generally have “lemon” stickers, which require a more honest way of doing business.
When it’s not disclosed, and the buyer has proven that the car is a lemon, there are laws that they need to be aware of to know of their rights and what actions they can take to get compensated. If you discover that the lemon law does not apply to your situation, know that other state laws might protect you just in case. See more about the lemon law on this website: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lemon-laws.asp.
About Hiring a Lawyer
After reasonable repair attempts and you’re not still satisfied with the outcome, it’s possible to take matters into your own hands. You can always hire an attorney for advice, and here are the advantages of doing so:
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Get a Fair Compensation
One of the primary reasons why you’re suing is to get compensation. When you have an experienced attorney helping you, you’ll be able to present the proof and data in the best possible way. The professionals will strengthen your case and increase your chance of winning the challenging lawsuit.
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Have Legal Advice
Many people are unsure of what to do when confronted with legal matters. They might panic and do things that will make them lose the case. When you’re frustrated and confused about the lemon law, you might want to hire a lawyer to help you navigate in the right direction. They offer valuable insights about your case that you might never think of in the first place.
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It’s Free
When you’re dealing with cases that affect consumers, there are instances where you don’t have to pay anything to the attorney that’s handling the case. When it’s proven that your vehicle is a lemon, it’s the manufacturers’ responsibility to pay the lawyer you hired. This is why the process is quicker in some cases, and you’ll get the refund that you deserve in an easier manner when you have a professional helping you.
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