| If you have bought a car or intend to buy just | | | | When you approach a law firm or an attorney |
| about any automobile, you should be glad to hear | | | | about the issue; they will usually be able to advise |
| that there exists lemon laws in California that | | | | you on whether you qualify for a lemon law case. |
| protect the rights of consumers who have been | | | | The usual requirements to qualify for such a case |
| duped into buying a malfunctioning car that has | | | | include proof of the fact that the vehicle was |
| inherent mechanical or structural anomalies that | | | | indeed purchased from a dealer or manufacturer; |
| the manufacturer has not been able to address | | | | that while the warranty was still valid the vehicle |
| even after numerous attempts. Lemon laws in | | | | started to malfunction and despite all efforts the |
| California were passed by the state legislators | | | | manufacturer failed to provide a concrete solution |
| under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty act | | | | to the problem and rectify the vehicle. You will |
| in order to safeguard the interests of consumers | | | | also need to have some evidence in your |
| who purchase problematic vehicles that start | | | | possession showing where you took the vehicle |
| malfunctioning within the warranty period. | | | | for repair and what you were told to strengthen |
| However, once the warranty lapses the court can | | | | your case. The court will then determine if your |
| no longer order a refund or a replacement. | | | | claims provide enough grounds to order the |
| For people who are not aware of the term lemon | | | | manufacture to refund the purchase amount or |
| and its connotations; this is simply a vehicle in | | | | to replace the car. If found at fault, the |
| which serious defects occur within a short time of | | | | manufacturer will generally have to give a full |
| purchase from the manufacturer or dealer. | | | | refund to the consumer. |
| Because the lemon laws in California not only deal | | | | However, you need to understand that your |
| with cars but also other types of automobiles and | | | | lemon is not a blank signed check from the |
| also boats, several lawyers in the state specialize | | | | manufacturer, in other words, don't expect to get |
| in lemon law cases. These attorneys guide people | | | | rich on the compensation, quite simply because |
| on their rights as the consumer and how to claim | | | | the lemon law in California were designed to |
| these rights in the court of law. They explain all | | | | ensure that the customer gets back what he/she |
| the issues concerning lemon laws to the client so | | | | has lost and no more. So even if you have a |
| that consumers can be better informed about | | | | very strong case, the compensation will seldom |
| what they can and cannot do. | | | | exceed the purchase amount. You cannot expect |
| A consumer should approach the court in case of | | | | the court to accept your claims for an exorbitant |
| defective vehicle purchases only when all other | | | | amount of money on the grounds of the |
| legal recourses have been exhausted to try and | | | | emotional distress that the lemon caused you. So |
| get the manufacture or dealer to see reason. | | | | it is certainly not practical to make any claims that |
| While not all people get a replacement, you can be | | | | exceed the purchase amount; doing so will simply |
| sure that moving court is the only way to ensure | | | | destroy the credibility of an otherwise strong |
| that a single person is heard against a company | | | | case. |
| such as an automobile giant. If you have a string | | | | However, you can expect to get back not only |
| case; there ate very good chances that you may | | | | the purchase price but also expenditures that you |
| get a replacement or a full compensation as you | | | | may had to incur in order to buy the vehicle such |
| desire; however most companies choose to settle | | | | as the registration charges, finance charges, down |
| out of court because they simply cannot afford | | | | payment, incidental expenses, lease or monthly |
| the ignominy of manufacturing bad vehicles and | | | | loan payment and even the attorneys fees. |
| bad customer service. | | | | |