At Shainfeld Law, P.C., our California lemon law attorney helps California residents pursue their vehicle manufacturers for a legal remedy that fits their needs so they are safe behind the wheels of their vehicles.
Here, we provide helpful tips on how you can begin the lemon law claim process with only success in mind.
Document Everything Relating to Your California Lemon Law Case
The California Lemon Law requires proof the vehicle cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts before a claim can be filed against the manufacturer.
The most important evidence you have that these attempts were made is:
- Written, dated lists of the problems or defects you have experienced, including any strange sounds or smells that occur when you run your car you have asked the repair shop to look into and photographs or videos of the problems.
- Documents from the repair shop and the manufacturer about your complaints.
- Records of the work that was recommended and performed and the details of your conversations with these entities.
- A list of all repair attempts and how long your vehicle was out of service for each attempt.
- Any technical service bulletins (TSB) issued on your car’s make and model by the manufacturer. TSBs are available to dealerships so their service departments know of supposed fixes for known issues.
Make Sure You Have Provided All the Required Information
Both you and your repair shop must document certain information when dealing with a potential lemon in California.
Your repair shop must provide a service report or invoice that includes the following information:
- Make, model, and year of the vehicle.
- The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- Mileage on the vehicle.
- Dates when the vehicle was being serviced.
- The name of the service writer and the mechanic or technician who attempted the repairs.
- The customer’s complaints. Ensure your complaints are entered into the system thoroughly and accurately by requesting a printed confirmation before service begins. Service providers often paraphrase vehicle complaints or input them as something different, which could impact your ability to file a successful lemon law claim in California.
- The repairs that were attempted.
Know What a “Reasonable Number of Attempts” Means to Your Vehicle
There are multiple variations of what qualifies as a reasonable number of repair attempts, as outlined in the California Lemon Law.
- The manufacturer, dealership, or authorized mechanic only has two attempts to repair a defective vehicle that could cause serious bodily injury or death.
- The manufacturer, dealership, or authorized mechanic only has four attempts at fixing the same defect if it does not qualify as one that could cause serious bodily injury or death.
- If the defective vehicle has been with the manufacturer, dealership, or authorized mechanic for more than 30 days total — which do not have to be consecutive to count — for warranty-covered issues and repairs, it may be covered under the California Lemon Law.
Contact an Experienced California Lemon Law Attorney
Lemon law cases can be complex, requiring extensive knowledge of not only the laws on defective vehicles but also the requirements that the process places consumers, the manufacturer, and the repair shop.
You must protect your investment in your vehicle, as well as your own personal s safety of your loved ones. Contact our experienced Los Angeles County lemon law attorney at Shainfeld Law, P.C., today by calling (310)-295-1888 or request a free consultation online.