Our Los Angeles, California lemon law attorney at Shainfeld Law, P.C., knows that consumers are accustomed to returning products that do not work, fit, or reach their purchasing expectations.
Vehicles operate under a different return policy. While many online vehicle companies and now dealerships will allow you to keep a vehicle for up to seven days — or return it without question — a week is typically not long enough to determine whether the vehicle is defective.
This is where the California Lemon Law protects consumers from being stuck with a vehicle that impacts its use, value, or safety.
However, because vehicles inherently deteriorate over time, the California Lemon Law does not cover breakdowns caused by wear and tear or intentional damages. If either one of those reasons is why your car keeps breaking down, you may not have a legitimate claim. Here is when you do.
How Many Trips to the Dealership for Repairs Are Too Many?
If your vehicle has a problem that can be fixed, it is not considered “defective.”
If you purchased a vehicle in California that is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, and it has undergone a qualifying number of repair attempts for the same defective issue, or has been in the repair shop for a total of 30 days or more, you may qualify to file a lemon law claim against the manufacturer to receive a cash settlement, full refund, or a replacement vehicle.
Outside of the 30-day rule, consumers must allow the manufacturer:
- Two attempts to repair a defective vehicle that could cause serious bodily injury or death.
- Four attempts at fixing the same defect if it does not qualify as one that could cause serious bodily injury or death.
Be sure to keep records of how your vehicle defect(s) has impacted your ability to properly use the car, truck, or SUV, and retain all documentation from the repair attempts, so it can be used to help build your lemon law case later.
How Quickly Will My California Lemon Law Claim Be Resolved?
Depending on which type of legal remedy fits your needs — including taking a cash settlement, getting a full refund, or a replacement vehicle — the timing of your California lemon law claim may vary.
Contact Our Experienced California Lemon Law Attorney for a Free Consultation
Our Los Angeles County lemon law attorney at Shainfeld Law, P.C. have a 99% success rate with our clients’ claims, and more often than not settle without a lawsuit. This typically means we can achieve results in as little as 30-60 days.
Contact us today at 310-295-1888 or request a free consultation online to learn how we can help you pursue a positive outcome for your California lemon law claim at no cost to you. Your vehicle’s manufacturer is directly liable for our attorney fees, so you pay us nothing.