Are you driving a lemon? If your vehicle repeatedly experiences the same defect, it might be a lemon, and you could be entitled to a refund, replacement, or cash settlement. An NC Lemon Law attorney at Timothy Abeel & Associates will advocate for your consumer rights and fight to secure you fair compensation. We know how frustrating it is to have a vehicle that isn’t performing as it should. Our experienced Lemon Law lawyers have assisted thousands of lemon drivers to win a fair outcome and are ready to support you through your case.
Under North Carolina Lemon Law, you have the right to a safe, functioning vehicle. We’re here to protect your rights. If you believe you received a lemon, call one of our dedicated Lemon Law attorneys today for a free case review!
North Carolina Lemon Law, Explained
North Carolina Lemon Law — known as the New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act — protects NC residents who have leased or purchased a new vehicle with defects. Under this legislation, consumers with a defective vehicle that has undergone several manufacturer repair attempts are entitled to certain compensation. NC Lemon Law forces manufacturers to take responsibility for their defective products and remedy the issue.
Has your vehicle exhibited the same problem, even after multiple repair attempts, within the first two years or 24,000 miles of your ownership? Then, you could be entitled to a replacement vehicle, a refund, or a cash settlement. A NC Lemon Law lawyer from Timothy Abeel & Associates can pursue your compensation in the following ways:
- Arbitration
- Litigation
- Settlement
Our attorneys are prepared to litigate or settle. However, certain manufacturer’s warranties state that consumers must undergo arbitration before pursuing litigation. If your warranty contains an arbitration clause, an experienced arbitrator from our firm will guide you through your lemon case, providing insightful tips and ensuring your rights are upheld.
We will work towards a swift and just outcome by negotiating with the manufacturer on your behalf. If fair compensation cannot be achieved through negotiation or arbitration, we will proceed with litigation. We recognize how disruptive it is to live without a functioning vehicle, which is why we will aggressively advocate for a timely resolution.
In North Carolina, you generally have up to four years after discovering the defect to file a lemon claim. However, every additional mile of usage could impact the size of your settlement, so don’t delay speaking with a Timothy Abeel & Associates NC Lemon Law attorney if you suspect your vehicle is a lemon.
Qualifying for Compensation Under the Lemon Law in North Carolina
Want to know if your vehicle qualifies for Lemon Law protections? If the issue you’re facing is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and occurs within the warranty period, you might be eligible for Lemon Law protections. If your vehicle meets this criteria, it is presumed a lemon when the following is also true:
- You have informed the manufacturer of the issue in writing
- The manufacturer has had at least 15 days (but no more) to attempt to fix the issue
- The manufacturer has made four or more attempts to fix the issue
- The vehicle has been inoperable for a total of 20 business days during a 12-month warranty period
Note that your vehicle does not need to have spent 20 cumulative days undergoing repairs to be presumed a lemon. It must simply have been inoperable for 20 days to receive Lemon Law protections.
Whether reached through arbitration, litigation, or a settlement, if your vehicle is deemed a lemon, you are entitled to one of the following remedies:
- A refund
- A cash settlement
- A replacement vehicle
- Reimbursement for towing, repair, and rental costs
Should the court order the manufacturer to issue you a refund, that refund will contain the following:
- Full purchase price*
- Sales tax
- Finance charges
- Cost of any extended warranties purchased
- Fees for services
- License and registration fees
*The manufacturer will deduct what the law deems a “reasonable” amount from your refund to reflect your vehicle usage.
If you choose a replacement vehicle instead of a refund, the manufacturer must provide you with a comparable make, model, and year as your lemon. The manufacturer must also resume your payments as-is, giving you credit for all payments made (rather than starting a new loan). Your loan for the replacement vehicle will have the same terms as your original loan.
Whichever Lemon Law remedy you select, the manufacturer must reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses you incurred concerning your lemon. These can include repair costs, towing costs, and rental costs. The manufacturer is also responsible for your legal fees and court costs.
How It Works
Are you ready to secure the remedy you deserve? We make it easy to file a claim. First, you’ll schedule a free case review with a Timothy Abeel & Associates Lemon Law attorney in NC. Once we’ve reviewed your information, we’ll assist you in gathering compelling evidence and building your case. You’ll have our support at every step, and we’ll ensure you understand the process of pursuing Lemon Law compensation. Here’s how to get started:
- Complete Our Online Form
You’ll start by providing information about your vehicle through our online free case review form. Our Lemon Law attorneys will review your details for free to determine if you have a case and the best way to proceed. - Send Your Documentation
Next, we’ll begin collecting the proper documents to build your case. These can include:- Vehicle purchase information
- Repair records
- Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, including towing and rentals
While we work on your case, it’s important that you keep up with your regular payments and take your vehicle in for dealer—or manufacturer-recommended repairs.
- Let Us Do The Work
Once we have the proper documentation, we’ll take it from there. We will communicate and negotiate with the manufacturer, advocating for a fair settlement. If necessary, we will proceed with arbitration or litigation, safeguarding your consumer rights. You never need to worry about receiving a bill from us — we require the manufacturer to pay your legal fees. We only receive payment when you do, so you’ll never pay out of pocket for the legal defense you deserve.
Let Timothy Abeel & Associates Help You
At Timothy Abeel & Associates, we’re committed to protecting and upholding your consumer rights under Lemon Law. We’ll work tirelessly to win you a just outcome so you can get behind the wheel of a new, functioning replacement vehicle — or receive the funds to purchase a new one. When you partner with an NC Lemon Law attorney from our firm, you’ll unlock the following benefits:
Experienced Team
Our attorneys boast decades’ worth of experience battling Lemon Law cases. We’ve won fair compensation for thousands of clients and are ready to fight for your rights. You deserve a swift outcome, which is why we won’t allow settlement discussions to stall and are ready to pursue litigation when necessary.
Free Case Reviews
You will never pay for our services, starting with our free case reviews. Our dedicated Lemon Law attorneys will assess your case, identifying the best strategy to win you a fair outcome. We’ll ensure you understand the compensation you might win and guide you through every step of the process.
No Legal Fees
At Timothy Abeel & Associates, we don’t think that you should have to pay for the manufacturer’s mistakes. So you’ll never see a bill from us. We’ll recover our legal fees in the settlement, requiring that the manufacturer pay for our services. That means there’s no financial risk in scheduling your free consultation with one of our skilled attorneys today.
Frequently Asked Questions
We want to empower you with information about your rights. Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive about North Carolina Lemon Law cases.
So, what qualifies as a lemon car? In order to receive Lemon Law protections, your vehicle must be:
- A passenger vehicle such as a car, truck, motorcycle, or van
- Used primarily for personal and/or household purposes (i.e. not for business purposes)
- Purchased from a North Carolina dealership
If your vehicle meets this criteria, you could be entitled to Lemon Law protections as long as the defect is covered and appears within the warranty period.
If you think you’re driving a lemon, inform the manufacturer of the defect in writing and give them the allowed time and number of attempts to fix the issue (four attempts in no more than 15 days).
Only go to your dealership for warranty repairs. Do not attempt DIY remedies, as these can damage your vehicle and case. Keep up with your car payments, and retain records of all repair attempts. In the meantime, contact one of our Lemon Law attorneys for a free case consultation.
While we understand that any defect can present challenges, not every defect is covered by Lemon Law. Here are defects that do qualify for Lemon Law protections:
- Any defect that impacts the vehicle’s safety, value, or use
- A defect that the manufacturer has made at least four unsuccessful attempts to fix
- A defect that is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty
- A defect that has left your vehicle undrivable for a total of 20 days
Even if your vehicle does not meet the above criteria, it is still advisable that you consult with one of our attorneys. You might be eligible for compensation under other consumer rights.
Under North Carolina Lemon Law, you could be entitled to one of the following remedies:
- A replacement vehicle of comparable make, model, and year
- A full or partial refund
- Additional repairs
- Reimbursement for costs such as repairs, towing, and rentals
When we advocate for you, we’ll ensure that legal fees are also covered in your settlement.
Unfortunately, if your issues first appeared outside the 24,000-mile or two-year period, you likely will not be eligible for Lemon Law protections. You could still be eligible for other consumer rights protections, so speak with a consumer rights lawyer, regardless of when your problems first occurred.
Due to the various factors that impact a Lemon Law case, including the complexity of negotiations, whether or not we litigate, and the court’s calendars, we can’t provide an exact timeframe for your case. However, we guarantee that we’ll push for a swift resolution, and if a settlement cannot be reached within 90 days, we’ll proceed to arbitration or litigation.
When you work with Timothy Abeel & Associates, you will never pay a single dollar for legal fees or court costs. We will pursue the manufacturer for all legal costs, including filing fees. So you do not have to pay to file a Lemon Law claim in North Carolina.
North Carolina Lemon Law only covers passenger vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds and are used primarily on public roads. It does not cover off-road vehicles such as ATVs, UTVs, dune buggies, or snowmobiles.
While you are not required by law to hire an attorney for your Lemon Law case, we strongly advise it. Lemon Law is nuanced, and navigating the court system can be complicated. Our experienced Lemon Law attorneys have an extensive history of guiding clients through Lemon Law cases. We can ensure that your rights are upheld at every step and that you aren’t overwhelmed by the legal process. Let an NC Lemon Law attorney from Timothy Abeel & Associates fight for you and win your deserved settlement.