Discover The 'Insider' Strategies To Winning A Case Against The Car Companies And Why To Hire A Lemon Law Attorney
What is a Lemon?
You have stumbled upon this website and maybe you already know what a lemon vehicle is. Some people who we have talked to thought we were talking about the color of the car, but this can be some serious stuff, so let me sum it up for you. You just bought a new or used car but it may not run, it may not work and it doesn't take you where you need to go. In that case you may have been sold a lemon. No worries though because you are in the right place for your next steps in how to deal with it.
Things to Do Before You Hire an Attorney
Let's take a look at some items you can do on your own before you hire a lemon law attorney. When you follow these tips it will help them help you. If you currently have a spiral notebook or journal you could take notes to document as much as you can leading up to the discovery that you have a lemon. What exactly are you taking notes on you ask? All communications with the dealership including dates, times, names, when you visited them and what the problem was with the car. This includes keeping copies of every communication you have with the dealership whether it is a letter or email. It doesn't matter if it is the same person you are talking to or the same problem you are trying to resolve. Every piece of evidence you have logged into your notebook is going to make your case stronger and much easier for the lawyer to work with.
Another item you can log is how your car is performing on a daily basis making sure to note when there are problems or when you cannot use the vehicle. If some work has been done to rectify the situation make sure you always obtain a work order from the dealership for the item. Also check out the state laws yourself as the car manufacturer may need a letter stating you have been sold a lemon. All this will need to happen within a certain time frame depending on your state.
It is a good idea to use all the resources you have at your disposal, such as web sites like this one, or your local better business bureau. There are also websites that track the history of possible defects and problems for your lemon vehicle make and model. If you believe you have been sold a faulty automobile make sure to check the TSBs or the Technical Service Bulletins. These bulletins should be noted on the repair slip you receive from the dealership representative. The site for the "Technical Services Bulletins" can be read at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
You may be wondering about your used car and whether or not federal lemon laws are available to assist you. Most basic lemon laws were set up for new cars but used car provisions have been added to a law called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. If there is an implied warranty from the dealership or seller then everything under that implied warranty will need to be covered such as repairs, replacing parts or even possibly refunding the money to the buyer. These days most states have more in depth laws so it is important to check if you are worried about your car being a lemon.
Why Should I Hire a Lemon Law Attorney?
Lemon Law Attorneys have experience in the field working with dealerships and manufacturers. You wouldn't want to have a doctor do a root canal for you when it is a dentist's job would you? Yes you can learn about lemon laws and may be able to do some stuff on your own like I stated above, but you want the attorney to go over your claim with a fine tooth comb, just as you would when hiring your own accountant for your taxes.
Believe it or not car manufacturers hire their own team of lawyers who day in and day out are there solely to deny and contest lemon law claims. Think of the attorney you have as your own personal advocate against these big hot shot corporate lawyers who are only there to make sure you don't get the money you might deserve.
Sometimes these car manufacturers are annoyed by lemon law claims and don't think you are really serious about pursuing anything unless you hire a lemon law lawyer. They know then that your lawyer won't back down until you get some sort of compensation so it puts you in a better position with the car manufacturer.
Let's talk about how your attorney can help you. He or she must know the inside and outside of the laws for your state and should assist you in getting the compensation you are seeking, even if your vehicle doesn't necessarily meet all the standards for being a lemon.
Most importantly a lemon law attorney should be FREE. Yes I said free because according to a provision of the law in most states if you win your case for your lemon claim the manufacturer must pay all of your attorney fees. Once your lawyer has all your facts and documents they will assess your claim and see how strong it is. If they feel confident about winning the case they will usually take it on.
You have nothing to lose by consulting a lemon law attorney before you try to do it all yourself, which lets face it could end very badly for you. It could even mean winning the case but not receiving the right compensation for one of the biggest purchases you will make in your lifetime. Always remember to do your homework on the lawyer you choose. Ask them pointed questions like:
How many lemon law cases have they worked on?
Out of these cases how many came back with a successful verdict?
Will they be the only person working on the case and if not who else will be assisting?
How long do they feel the case will take until any compensation comes out of it?
Has the ethics committee ever disciplined them or have they ever been suspended by the bar?
They might be hard questions to ask but it is better to know all of this up front before you have this attorney represent you.
Remember that these attorneys are on your side: if you win, they win.
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