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When you buy a car that keeps breaking down despite repeated trips to the repair shop, you own a vehicle that is known as a “lemon.” If you live in Anaheim and face this frustrating situation, California’s lemon law can help you. An experienced Anaheim lemon law lawyer from Neale & Fhima APC can guide you through the process. Here’s how the law works and what Neale & Fhima APC can do to help you.
In Anaheim and throughout California, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act sets specific rules. Not every car with problems qualifies as a lemon, but your vehicle might be a lemon if:
The law doesn’t say exactly how many repair attempts are needed, but generally, it’s about two to four tries for serious safety issues and three to four tries for other problems. If your car has been in the shop for a total of 30 days or more for repairs, that often qualifies as well.
Anaheim is a big city, spanning 50 square miles. You need reliable transportation to get to work, Disneyland, Angels games, or the convention center, and when your car keeps breaking down, life gets complicated fast. However, this issue is not just inconvenient. A defective car causes other problems, including:
Lemon law exists to protect you from being stuck with a defective vehicle.
Car manufacturers don’t like giving refunds or replacements, so they fight these claims hard. An Anaheim lemon law attorney from Neale & Fhima APC will do the following:
The car companies have teams of lawyers trying to pay you as little as possible, but having your own lemon law attorney levels the playing field.
If you’re tired of dealing with a car that won’t stay fixed, call Neale & Fhima APC at 949-661-1007 for a free consultation about your options.
If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, you generally have the following choices:
The manufacturer takes back your car and refunds your money, including down payment and monthly payments, and pays off your loan. They can subtract a small amount for the miles you drove before the problems started.
You get a new, similar vehicle from the manufacturer. Both you and the manufacturer must agree to this option.
Sometimes, there’s a third option called “cash and keep,” where you keep the car but get money to make up for its problems.
Many people think the lemon law only covers new cars, but that’s not true. In Anaheim, some used cars are also protected, especially those still under the original factory warranty or those bought with a dealer warranty. An Anaheim lemon law attorney can help you determine whether your used car can be considered a lemon.
California gives you four years to file a lemon law claim after you discover a defect. This doesn’t mean you have four years to start having problems. It means once you notice issues, the clock starts ticking. In such claims, documentation is very important, so keep every repair order, receipt, and record of communication with the dealership. Write down dates when you dropped off and picked up your vehicle — these records will be the backbone of your claim.
Car manufacturers don’t like to give refunds or replacements, even when they should. Here’s why:
Having a knowledgeable lemon law attorney is essential so you can deal with the pushback from car manufacturers.
The process usually works like this:
Most cases settle before trial, but manufacturers know which claims are prepared to go all the way and which aren’t.
When looking for a lemon law attorney, look for someone who:
Law firms that handle these cases regularly know how specific manufacturers respond to claims and can plan for their tactics.
When you choose Neale & Fhima APC as your Anaheim lemon law lawyer, you get more than just legal representation. Here’s what makes our firm different:
Car manufacturers respect Neale & Fhima APC because they know we come prepared to take cases all the way to trial if needed. This often results in better settlement offers for our clients.
Here are some common questions that cover some of the concerns vehicle owners have when dealing with ongoing defects.
The law covers new cars and used cars that still have time left on the manufacturer’s warranty. This includes cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, the drive train of motor homes, dealer demos, and vehicles for personal or business use. The law doesn’t cover off-road vehicles or vehicles that have been abused by the owner.
Maybe, though it’s more complicated. When you traded in the vehicle compared to when you discovered and reported the defects will be an important factor.
A recall fixes a specific defect that affects many vehicles of the same model. A lemon law claim deals with your specific vehicle that keeps having problems despite multiple repair attempts.
You can try, but your chances of success are much lower. Manufacturers have teams of lawyers who handle these claims all day, every day.
Remember that every situation is unique, and that’s why getting personal legal advice is so valuable.
Buying a car and having it repeatedly fail despite repair attempts can be frustrating. California’s lemon law exists because lawmakers recognized this issue. It’s one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country, but it works best when you know how to use it. If you’re in Anaheim dealing with a car that won’t work right despite multiple repair attempts, don’t just accept it. You paid good money for a working vehicle. When it repeatedly fails despite giving the dealer chances to fix it, you have legal rights that can help take care of the problem.
Don’t keep struggling with a defective vehicle. Call Neale & Fhima APC at 949-661-1007 today to discuss your lemon law rights with an experienced attorney.
Attorney Aaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights.