When you think you’ve been stuck with a defective vehicle – a Lemon – and you want to exercise your rights under the law – you need leverage. You need the ability to put pressure and place deadlines on the manufacturer. The only way to do this is in a lawsuit, filed in a California court by YOUR attorney.
There are several reasons why consumers who have no legal representation have less leverage in California lemon law cases. First, consumers who are legally represented will take priority, since the court forces attention to the case with legal protocols and deadlines – and this causes the manufacturer to ‘come to the table’ to settle the case while abiding by the court rules. Manufacturers are also attempting to avoid excessive legal fees and will therefore handle these cases more promptly. Without legal representation, you have none of this leverage.
Secondly, if an unrepresented consumer feels the offer isn’t fair, they have no one to advise them, or go to bat for them – and in many cases, it’s a matter of ‘take it or leave it’ – the consumer in this situation isn’t dealing with the manufacturer at the proper level, rather, it’s usually someone in the ‘customer satisfaction’ department. Sadly, once they make an offer, it’s too late to hire an attorney.
Having an attorney to represent you in your Lemon Law case usually yields other options regarding settlement and ultimately a resolution to the problem – very commonly consisting of an offer of a cash payment to keep the car (post repair). Having legal representation in these situations is usually your chance at reaching a fair settlement.
The manufacturer has legal representation, so why shouldn’t you, as the consumer? If the vehicle meets the definition of a lemon and you have provided substantial proof, then your attorney costs you nothing; the manufacturer pays the legal fees and attorney costs. How can you tell if your vehicle meets the legal definition described above? CALL US for a free phone consultation directly with the attorney, or visit our website and complete the questionnaire. We will immediately let you know how to proceed and whether you have a case. If you have a valid case and you hire us, it costs you nothing.
We receive many calls from consumers after receiving a weak and unacceptable offer from the manufacturer. At that point, it’s too late to hire us. Don’t let this happen to you!
