Experienced Fresno Lemon Law Attorneys
Are you facing persistent issues with your vehicle? You might be driving a lemon car and could be entitled to a replacement, refund, or cash settlement. At Timothy Abeel & Associates, we specialize in Lemon Law and have handled thousands of lemon cases, helping individuals receive the compensation they’re owed. Our seasoned Lemon Law attorneys will advise you every step of the way, ensuring you understand your rights, and we’ll fight for the outcome you deserve.
California law protects you, making manufacturers take responsibility for defective vehicles. If you suspect you bought a lemon, a Fresno Lemon Law attorney is waiting to review your case for free at Timothy Abeel & Associates. Call us today and get the compensation you deserve!
Fresno Lemon Law Explained
Fresno residents are protected by the “Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act” (also known as the California Lemon Law), which ensures certain consumer rights to people who have purchased or leased a defective vehicle.
If you have made multiple attempts to repair your vehicle with no success, you could be in a position to take legal action against the vehicle manufacturer. California Lemon Law mandates that manufacturers be held accountable for lemon vehicles and make things right with affected consumers.
So, should you seek justice under the California Lemon Law? Here are some things to know:
- The issues must present themselves within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles
- If the manufacturer offers arbitration, you must accept it to gain certain presumptions in court
- Should you skip arbitration, the burden will be on you to prove your vehicle is a lemon
When you partner with a Lemon Law attorney in Fresno, CA from our team, we will work hard to obtain a fair settlement for you. However, we will proceed with litigation and go to bat for you in court if a settlement cannot be reached.
Qualifying for Compensation Under the Lemon Law in Fresno
For your vehicle to qualify as a lemon, it must meet certain criteria. The vehicle must have an express warranty — a written agreement from the seller or manufacturer to repair or replace a faulty vehicle. Additionally, the issues must appear within the first 18 months of ownership, or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first). If your vehicle meets the above criteria, it will be deemed a lemon if:
- Your dealer has made two or more unsuccessful attempts to fix a life-threatening issue.
- Your dealer has made four or more unsuccessful attempts to fix a non-life-threatening issue.
- You have been unable to use the vehicle for 30 cumulative days.
Note the word “cumulative.” Your vehicle does not need to undergo repairs or be undrivable for 30 consecutive days; as long as you can prove it has been out of service for 30 days, it qualifies as a lemon.
If your vehicle fits the description above, it is presumed to be a lemon under the law. That means you are relieved of the burden of proving that your vehicle is a lemon in court. We can proceed to work towards a satisfactory resolution with the manufacturer.
Under California Lemon Law, to receive the presumption that your vehicle is a lemon, you need to go through arbitration with the manufacturer — if they offer it. If the manufacturer does not offer arbitration, you automatically receive the lemon presumption and can proceed to court.
Here are ways the manufacturer might remedy your issue:
- Further repairs
- Vehicle replacement
- Partial or full refund
- Reimbursement for towing and rental costs
In the event that the court or the arbitrator determines that the manufacturer must issue a refund, you will receive the following (when applicable):
- Your down payment, plus any trade-in allowance
- Loan or lease payments you have already made
- The sales tax you paid
- Licensing and registration fees
- Rental car costs incurred during repairs
- Repair and towing expenses
- Legal fees
You can alternatively choose to pursue a replacement vehicle. Should the manufacturer give you a replacement vehicle, it will need to be comparable in terms of make, model, and trim to your lemon. Your lease or loan will pick up where the balance was on your previous model — you will be credited for payments already made and will not begin a new lease or loan.
If you do choose to receive a replacement vehicle, the manufacturer is still responsible for paying you for any repair, towing, and rental car expenses incurred while you possessed the lemon, as well as your legal fees.
How It Works
A Fresno Lemon Law lawyer is ready to assist you at Timothy Abeel & Associates. If you believe you received a lemon, call our office. A member of our team will conduct a free assessment to gain an understanding of your circumstances. If we believe you have a case, we will take over the hard parts, like gathering evidence and communicating with the manufacturer’s legal team. Let’s look at how to get started and learn a bit more about how building a Lemon Law case works.
1. Complete Our Online Form
Start by filling out our online form. Here, you provide us with basic information about your situation. Our firm will assign a Lemon Law attorney in Fresno, CA to evaluate your case for free and determine the best way to get you the compensation you deserve.
2. Send Documentation
To build a strong case, there are a few documents we’ll need from you, including:
- Records of repairs performed on your vehicle
- Vehicle purchase information
- Receipts for any expenses you’ve incurred, such as repairs, rental cars, and towing
While we work on your case, we advise you to keep up with your usual lease or loan payments and move forward with your dealership-recommended repairs. Keep copies of the associated documents and provide these to us as they’re generated.
3. Let Us Do The Work
Once we have the above, we’ll handle everything else for you so you can get back to your life. We’ll communicate and negotiate with the manufacturer and represent you in arbitration or litigation. You never have to worry about receiving a bill from us because California Lemon Law mandates that the manufacturer pay for your legal fees.
Let Timothy Abeel & Associates Help You
We’re dedicated to advocating for the rights of consumers who’ve been stuck with a lemon. Our team will be by your side every step of the way and build a compelling case to get you the result you deserve. If you have been burdened with the costs of a defective vehicle in Fresno, CA, a Lemon Law attorney at our firm can help. Here are a few reasons why you should partner with us.
Experienced Team
Our experienced Lemon Law attorneys have fought for the rights of thousands of Fresno drivers stuck with problem vehicles. With us, you benefit from the combined knowledge of attorneys with an outstanding record in winning Lemon Law cases. We will be assertive and thorough when pursuing the compensation you deserve. We prioritize swift resolutions so you can return to enjoying life — in a vehicle that works.
Free Case Reviews
A member of our team will review the details to determine the best strategy for your case. We will evaluate your situation free of charge and give you an honest assessment of the level of compensation we believe you can receive. You will not pay anything for this case review.
No Legal Fees
Timothy Abeel & Associates Lemon Law lawyers in Fresno, CA work on contingency, which means you aren’t responsible for any legal fees. We only receive payment if you receive a settlement. California Lemon Law requires that the manufacturer pay any legal costs associated with your case, so we’ll send the bill to them — not you. Pursue the compensation you deserve without financial concern, and call our office today.
To receive California Lemon Law protection, your vehicle must meet the following criteria:
- Issues need to have appeared in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles
- You must have purchased the vehicle from a California-based dealer
- It must be a non-commercial use vehicle (like a truck, SUV, car, or the chassis cab of a motor home)
- It must be used primarily for personal use, not business use
If you believe your car is a lemon, report the issues to the manufacturer. You can do this by bringing it to the dealership where you purchased it and requesting warranty repairs. Never attempt a DIY solution on your vehicle, as this can harm your case.
Keep up with payments while we work on your case, and retain all records and receipts for warranty repairs performed on the vehicle. You can also call a Lemon Law attorney in Fresno, CA at Timothy Abeel & Associates to explore your options.
Getting stuck with a defective vehicle is frustrating and can greatly interfere with your day-to-day life. However, not every defect qualifies for a Lemon Law claim. Here are the criteria your vehicle must meet:
- The issue is covered under the manufacturer’s or dealer’s warranty
- The issue significantly impacts your ability to use the vehicle, as well as the vehicle’s value and safety
- The dealership has made two or more unsuccessful attempts to repair a life-threatening issue or four attempts to repair a non-life-threatening issue
- Your vehicle has been undrivable for at least 30 cumulative days (even without repair attempts)
- You can show an itemized labor and parts receipt for every repair
There are two primary remedies available to you under California Lemon Law:
- Repurchase: The manufacturer buys the vehicle back from you at its purchase price. They also reimburse you for any sales tax, fees associated with the purchase, and costs you incurred while your vehicle was having issues, like legal and rental car costs. We offer an easy-to-use buyback calculator to help you determine what you might receive.
- Replacement: The manufacturer replaces your vehicle with a comparable make, model, and trim. Your loan resumes at the current balance, and you are credited for payments made. Additionally, the manufacturer pays you for costs incurred with your lemon, including repairs and legal fees.
You do have the freedom to select the remedy you receive.
While Lemon Law most likely cannot protect you if your vehicle is past the 18,000-mile or 18-month mark, there are other consumer laws under which you can file claims. Get in touch with a California consumer rights attorney to learn about other courses of action you can take.
There is no set time period for a Lemon Law case. However, we recognize how limiting it is to be without a functioning vehicle. That’s why, if we can’t earn you a settlement within 90 days, we will move forward with arbitration or litigation. We work hard to get you a swift and fair remedy so you can get a working vehicle and return to your usual life.
No. We mean it when we say you won’t pay anything to work with us. Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means we only earn something if you win a settlement. We will review your case and file a claim for you, free of charge to you.
Recreational vehicles such as boats, off-road vehicles, and motorcycles are not covered under California Lemon Law. However, other laws offer protections to owners of these vehicles.
While you can represent yourself, to get the best possible outcome, we highly recommend working with a Lemon Law attorney. Navigating the complexities of the California court system can be overwhelming. You need the knowledge and insight of an experienced Lemon Law attorney to get through the process of filing a claim, arbitrating, and possibly litigating confidently. So call a Lemon Law lawyer at Timothy Abeel & Associates today for your free assessment.