How Does a Car Qualify for Lemon Law in California?

When you signed the dotted line and were handed the keys to your brand-new car, you couldn’t have known you were taking home a lemon. A lemon is a product that is substandard and defective and is usually used to describe a vehicle. If you’re the proud new owner of a lemon and are in Los Angeles, you’re in luck. A law called the Lemon Law is in place to protect you.

The best thing you can do if you are the victim of a lemon sale is to contact a Lemon Law Lawyer California. Having an attorney on your case will make all the difference in the world. You’ll be able to trust your lawyer with all the legal details of the case. It’s a good idea to know as much as you can about the Lemon Law that applies to your case even if you do have a lawyer.

What Qualifies as a Lemon Under the California Lemon Law?

Across the nation, each state has a Lemon Law but they vary in what they cover and what they don’t. Fortunately for those who have purchased a lemon, California has a very strong Lemon Law that is favorable for consumers as long as they meet the qualifications.

Some of the qualifying factors include:

• A warranty.
  Your car must have an active manufacturer warranty in place. The problems must surface while the warranty is still in place.
• Taking it to a certified mechanic.
  You must take your car in to be fixed at a certified repair shop and you must do so while the warranty is active. If the warranty expires after that, you are still covered though.
• Times allotted.
  There are only so many times the manufacturer has to remedy the mechanical issue. For large problems, like defective brakes or an engine that shuts down in the midst of running, there are only a few attempts allowed. For minor issues, more time is allowed. The law says “reasonable time” which is the clue that you will do best to hire a Lemon Law Attorney California because the letter of the law is sometimes difficult to see clearly and can be difficult to define.
• Taking care of the car.
  You must have taken reasonable care of the car. If it is discovered that you took your car out mudding or racing across the country, you won’t be covered under the Lemon Law.
• Reasonable attempts.
  You must take the vehicle in to be repaired in a reasonable amount of time. After all, the carmaker cannot be responsible if you haven’t taken it in for the number of times they are given to remedy the issue.

Statute of Limitations in California

The State of California has set a statute of limitations in order. You have four years from the first time you experience or notice the problem until you file a lawsuit. You may think that is a long time but really, it’s not. You must allow for each time the manufacturer is trying to fix the issue and the length of time it stays in the shop. You also must figure out any time you may spend arbitrating because it’s after arbitration (if you choose to arbitrate) that you file if you are going to take the case to trial. With that in mind, it is imperative to contact a Lemon Law Lawyer California at the first inkling that you have landed a lemon and will most likely be filing a lawsuit

What is Included Under the Lemon Law?

There are things that are covered in the Lemon Law such as windows, seats, mirrors, acceleration, and other things that would be difficult not to have in good use. In addition, some details that may fall under “compromised value” include dents, bad paint job, torn seats, stains, missing carpet, bent hood or grill, and other things that aren’t hazardous but could diminish the car’s resale value. Safety is a main concern under the lemon law. Defective brakes, broken headlights, malfunctioning airbags, faulty steering, and more can make the car unsafe to operate.

If your transmission doesn’t shift right or your engine doesn’t start or run properly, you may have a lemon. If your battery continually runs down and nothing the certified mechanic does can fix it or your steering is off kilter, you very well may have a lemon.

There‘s no reason that you should continually be without a running vehicle while yours is in the shop, time after time. You can’t be without a running vehicle and be out all the money it takes to keep taking the car in with the problem never solved. It’s time to stand up for the rights that were afforded to you in one of the most significant laws ever, the Lemon Law of California. The only catch to the law is that you have to activate it by following the steps and ultimately setting the case for trial if all else has failed. No one is going to come to your door and just hand you your money back. You have to take action but once you do, you are covered if your car and your situation qualify.

If you have any of the problems above and you have taken it in to be repaired to no avail, be sure to contact a California Lemon Law Attorney so you can exercise your rights under the Lemon Law.

Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer

If you are looking for the best, most experienced Lemon Law Attorney Los Angeles who will be totally honest and upfront with you and passionately fight for your rights, turn to the experts at Point Law Group. With hundreds of successful Lemon Law cases resolved and thousands of dollars recovered, Point Law Group is the team you want backing you. Call today to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation at (310) 560-0606.