The Many Ways A Lemon Law Attorney Can Help Car Owners

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Most states have lemon laws that protect consumers who lease or buy cars, trucks, and SUVs. These laws require manufacturers to honor their warranties. They also include requirements such as a reasonable number of repair attempts and the fact that the defects significantly reduce the use or value of the vehicle.

Repairs

A lemon law attorney can help car owners obtain repairs from a manufacturer after being sold a defective vehicle. Under the Magnus-Moss Warranty Act and state-level lemon laws, a vehicle can qualify for repurchase or replacement if the manufacturer cannot repair the defect after a reasonable number of attempts. These requirements vary by state and may include the number of opportunities a manufacturer has to fix the problem and how long the car must be in the shop for each attempt. A lawyer will carefully review the documentation of each repair attempt. The attorney will also examine the vehicle’s title, sales tax, and service records to determine if the dealership or manufacturer complied with the original purchase agreement. If a lemon law attorney determines that the manufacturer did not follow through on their end of the bargain, they can file a complaint with a local arbitration board. This process typically involves an oral hearing in which the attorney can argue on behalf of the consumer.

A lemon law attorney can help car owners ensure they meet all the requirements under the state or federal laws that protect consumers. This includes ensuring that the manufacturer has attempted to repair the vehicle a reasonable number of times or that the car has been in the shop for a while before the warranty expires.

For instance, a lemon law in Tennessee may require manufacturers to repurchase a defective vehicle and provide a consumer with a comparable replacement if the manufacturer chooses to repurchase instead of offering a refund. The new or used vehicle must be similar in model year, value, and mileage. It should also be available from the same dealer and include the same trade-in allowance, sales tax, and registration fees as the repurchased vehicle.

An experienced attorney can help the consumer with the application process and ensure all required documents are filed properly. The attorney can also ensure that the consumer doesn’t miss any notification or filing deadlines, which could derail the case. When a case is successful, the attorney can recover attorneys’ fees from the auto manufacturer. This is by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and most lemon laws. 

Reimbursements

The law varies from state to state, but most lemon laws require manufacturers to pay reasonable legal fees for customers who win their cases. A lemon law attorney will help you understand the details of your specific jurisdiction’s laws and how they compare to other states’ laws. They can also explain the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a federal statute that may provide more recourse than your state’s lemon law.

A lemon law attorney can help you pursue remedies such as a refund, a replacement vehicle, or compensation for your rental vehicle costs while the manufacturer repairs your car. They will help you determine if your vehicle meets the definition of a lemon, which usually requires a substantial defect that substantially detracts from the value of your car or jeopardizes its safety. Minor defects, such as paint or exterior coating issues, often aren’t considered substantial. Your lemon law attorney can help you file a claim under the law by collecting evidence of your problems and presenting it to an arbitration panel. 

Payments

As stated above, lemon law allows consumers to get a refund or replacement if they bought a vehicle with a major mechanical defect that cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts. A lemon law attorney can help consumers ensure that their case meets all requirements of the state laws and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Attorneys specializing in lemon laws have experience with these kinds of cases and know how to deal with manufacturers and car sales associates. They also have an understanding of the filing requirements and negotiation tactics that go along with these types of claims. They act as consumer advocates and fight for them to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve.

One of the biggest ways a lemon law attorney can help is by making payments while a claim is being worked on. Many people buy or lease their cars and must continue making payments while waiting for their settlement. The attorneys can work with the manufacturer and dealership to cover these payments while clients wait for their lemon replacement. Additionally, lemon law attorneys can help consumers with their financing options. They can talk to finance managers at the dealerships and the manufacturers to see what alternatives may be available. Many of these options allow consumers to pay off their existing auto loans and start over with a new, reliable vehicle that is free of defects.