If your vehicle spends more time in the shop than it does on the road, you might assume you’re stuck with a lemon car. But that might not be the case. Let a Timothy Abeel & Associates Lemon Law attorney in Glendale, CA fight for the compensation you deserve. Our experienced California Lemon Law lawyers have helped hundreds of Glendale drivers win cash settlements, refunds, or replacement vehicles. We’ll advocate for your rights and make sure the manufacturer fulfills their obligations.
California Lemon Law exists to protect the rights of Glendale drivers like you. Don’t assume you’re stuck with a lemon. Call us today and get the remedy you deserve!
Glendale Lemon Law Explained
If you’ve tried to fix a recurring issue in your vehicle without success, you could be entitled to certain protections under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Also known as the California Lemon Law, this legislation safeguards people who purchased or leased a vehicle that continuously presents the same issue even after being repaired. The law mandates that the vehicle manufacturer take responsibility for their defective vehicle.
Have you owned or leased your vehicle for less than 18 months or driven it for less than 18,000 miles while facing repetitive issues? You could be entitled to a cash settlement, replacement vehicle, or refund. A Lemon Law attorney in Glendale, CA can address your issue in the following ways:
- Arbitration
- Litigation
- Settlement
If the manufacturer offers arbitration, you’ll need to accept it to receive the lemon presumption in court. Should you choose to bypass arbitration, the burden will be on you to prove that your vehicle is a lemon in a lawsuit.
Fortunately, we settle the majority of our lemon cases without litigation, going from arbitration straight to a settlement. However, we’re prepared to move forward with litigation.Â
If you believe your vehicle might be a lemon, you could be entitled to certain remedies under Lemon Law. A Glendale, CA attorney at Timothy Abeel & Associates is ready to fight for you and win you a fair outcome.
Qualifying for Compensation Under the Lemon Law in Glendale
If your vehicle was sold with an express warranty and began exhibiting issues within the first 18 months of your purchase or lease (or within the first 18,000 miles driven), it qualifies for Lemon Law protections. A vehicle that fits this description is presumed a lemon when:
- Your dealer has made two or more failed attempts at fixing a life-threatening problem
- Your dealer has made four or more failed attempts at fixing a non-life-threatening problem
- You have been unable to drive your vehicle due to its defects for 30 cumulative days
Your vehicle does not need to have spent 30 days in a row at the auto shop to qualify for Lemon Law protections. If it’s been undrivable for 30 cumulative days while meeting the other criteria, it is presumed a lemon.
So, should your vehicle be a lemon, what solutions are available? The remedies you could be entitled to include:
- Additional repairs
- Partial refund
- Full refund
- Vehicle replacement
- Cash settlement
- Reimbursement for repairs, towing, and rental vehicles
If you’re awarded a refund, that sum will include:
- Your down payment
- Trade-in allowance (when applicable)
- Sales tax
- Licensing and registration fees
- Rental car costs
- Towing expenses
- Repair costs
- Legal fees
Should you choose a replacement vehicle instead of a refund, the manufacturer is obligated to give you one that’s comparable in make, model, and trim level to your lemon. You’ll be credited for payments you already made on the lemon and resume your lease or loan balance where it left off. Your lease or loan retains the same terms as your original one.
The manufacturer will still need to reimburse you for the money you spent to repair the defective model and the towing and rental car costs you incurred when attempting to fix your old vehicle. They’ll also be responsible for covering your legal fees.
How It Works
Ready to learn more about how our process works? Here’s a step-by-step guide to working with a Timothy Abeel & Associates Lemon Law attorney in Glendale, CA.Â
1. Complete Our Online Form
We’ll need to gather some information to strategize and give you a clear idea of what the best solution for you might look like. Start by filling out our online form and providing us with details about your vehicle and yourself. A member of our team will review this information during your free case review.Â
2. Send Documentation
We’ll collect the following documents from you to build your case:
- Records of repairs performed
- Vehicle purchase information
- Receipts for costs you incurred, such as rental vehicles, repairs, and towing
We’re happy to provide you with tips for gathering documentation and building your case. Just give us a call for further guidance.
3. Let Us Do The Work
After we’ve collected the necessary information and documents, we’ll get to work building your case. We’ll handle everything for you, from negotiating with the manufacturer to arbitration and, when required, litigation. We recognize that living with a lemon is costly, but your expenses end here. You won’t pay us for legal fees or court costs — California Lemon Law requires that the manufacturer cover those.Â
Let Timothy Abeel & Associates Help You
If you got stuck with a lemon, allow one of our Lemon Law lawyers in Glendale, CA to advocate for the compensation you deserve. We’re dedicated to seeing your rights upheld and winning a just remedy. Below are just a few reasons you should work with us.
Experienced Team
We know the nuances of Lemon Law and how to build a compelling case that wins you fair compensation. When it comes to finding the best Lemon Law attorney, Glendale, CA drivers know they can count on our firm to take an aggressive approach, securing swift and fair compensation.
Free Case Reviews
Our team will evaluate your case at no cost to you. Once we gather information, we’ll give you a clear picture of what reimbursement you can expect. We’ll also discuss strategies for moving forward with your case.
No Legal FeesÂ
From consultation to settlement, you won’t pay us a dollar out-of-pocket — we work on contingency. That means we don’t win anything unless you do. California Lemon Law requires manufacturers of defective vehicles to pay any legal fees consumers take on in seeking a remedy. So we’ll send the bill to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about Lemon Law? You can find helpful information below.
For your vehicle to be eligible for Lemon Law protections, it must:
- Have been purchased from a California dealer
- Be used primarily for personal or household purposes (not for business)
- Be a non-commercial vehicle (such as a sedan, truck, SUV, or passenger van)
To receive Lemon Law protections, you must inform the manufacturer of the issues you’ve been having. You’ll need to give the dealer the allowed number of attempts to repair the issue and never attempt to fix it yourself.Â
Keep up with your routine car payments and follow your dealer’s instructions for repairs. Meanwhile, call us and we’ll begin building your case.
While all defects are frustrating, not all of them make your vehicle a lemon. Here are the necessary conditions for your defect to qualify as a lemon:
- The dealer or manufacturer’s warranty covers the defect
- The defect substantially harms the vehicle’s drivability, safety, or value
- The dealer has had the allowed number of tries to repair the issue
- You have been unable to drive your vehicle for 30 cumulative days due to the issue
- You can produce itemized statements for parts and labor for each repair
There are two primary remedies you might be rewarded in a Lemon Law case:
- Repurchase: The manufacturer purchases your vehicle back from you, reimbursing you for all purchasing costs (i.e. down payment, trade-in allowance, sales tax, etc.).Â
- Replacement: The manufacturer replaces your vehicle with one of a similar make, model, and trim, and credits you for all lease or loan payments you have already made.
With either of the above remedies, the manufacturer reimburses you for out-of-pocket costs incurred while you had your lemon, such as rentals, towing, repairs, and legal fees.
Defects that appear after the first 18 months or 18,000 miles rarely qualify for Lemon Law protections. However, vehicles that began presenting issues after that time period might be protected under other consumer rights legislation. Contact a consumer rights attorney to discuss additional options for seeking a remedy.
No two cases are identical, so we cannot give you an exact time frame for your Lemon Law case. However, we assure our clients that if we’re unable to reach a settlement with the manufacturer within 90 days, we’ll proceed with arbitration or litigation. You’ve lived with a lemon long enough, so we’ll push for a swift resolution.
You do not have to pay a filing fee for your Lemon Law claim. This is a part of your legal fees, and the manufacturer is required to cover any legal costs you incur for your lemon case.
Lemon Law only covers vehicles used for personal and household use. It does not cover recreational vehicles. However, you might be eligible for protection under other consumer laws.
While working with an attorney isn’t mandatory, it gives you the best chance of winning a fair outcome. The Lemon Law is complex, and the court system can be overwhelming to navigate without professional guidance. Since you won’t pay anything upfront, there is no downside to retaining a lawyer from our firm, so call Timothy Abeel & Associates today for your free consultation.