Irvine Lemon Law Lawyer

Work with an Experienced Irvine Lemon Law Attorney

If the vehicle you rely on every day to drive to work, head to the grocery store, or pick up the kids from soccer practice has developed a chronic defect, an Irvine lemon law attorney can help you find a legal remedy. With a successful lemon law claim, you can get a replacement vehicle or your money back from the auto manufacturer.

Why Choose Us?

When it comes to tough Irvine lemon law attorneys, we believe Neale & Fhima beats the competition. That’s because we have an outstanding record of success in lemon law cases! Attorney Aaron Fhima has decades of experience in aggressively representing lemon law clients. He is supported by a legal team that shows compassion and care for every client we serve. We receive outstanding testimonials from our satisfied clients, provide an attractive attorney referral program, and offer free consultations. You are under no obligation.

How We Can Help

When you hire a lemon law attorney at Neale & Fhima, we will handle your lemon law claim from start to finish. Our service includes:

• Explaining the state laws and your legal remedies
• Creating all letters and documents needed to file a claim
• Advising you on making repair attempts and meeting lemon law guidelines
• Negotiating aggressively with the auto manufacturer
• Arguing your case in court, if necessary.

You never have to worry about the status of your claim when you hire our Irvine, CA, lemon law attorney. We keep you informed every step of the way.

Contact Winning Attorneys

What Qualifies as a Lemon?

Under the California lemon law, a new car, truck, SUV, motorcycle or RV with a major defect covered under the original factory warranty typically qualifies. Used cars are covered under the lemon law, too, in certain circumstances. To qualify for lemon law protection, the defect in question must substantially impair the USE, VALUE, or SAFETY of your vehicle. This means it can’t be a small scratch or imperfection. It must be a defect that impairs the vehicle’s use, diminishes its value, or could threaten passengers’ safety. If a lemon law claim is successful, the auto manufacturer is held responsible for replacing the vehicle or buying it back.

Typical kinds of defects that can give rise to a lemon law claim include:

• Exhaust, ignition, and fuel system problems
• Electrical and mechanical defects
• Flaws in the braking system
• Malfunctioning airbags
• Steering defects
• Wheel and tire problems
• Broken navigation system.

Before filing a lemon law claim, though, you must make a reasonable number of attempts to get the defect repaired. These repair attempts must be made by a dealership or authorized agent, not your neighborhood mechanic. Be sure to save your receipts, work orders, and spare parts from your repair appointments so you can prove you tried to have the defect fixed. Then contact a skilled Irvine lemon law lawyer at Neale & Fhima who can file a claim on your behalf. Call us at 888-407-2955.

Red Flags That Indicate a Lemon Vehicle

There are some common red flags that can indicate you’ve purchased a lemon. These include:

• Unusual pings, clunks, and noises that you can’t explain
• Excessive dark smoke emanating from your exhaust tailpipe
• Strange or unpleasant smells coming from the vehicle
• Difficulty starting the engine
• “Soft” brakes
• Shuddering at higher speeds
• ”Stiff” turning with automatic steering
• Engine easily overheats
• Leaking oil, gasoline, or transmission fluid.

If you experience any of these symptoms, take it to an authorized dealer to have it checked out promptly. It could be easily fixed, or it could indicate a much larger, chronic problem. You may also want to read our blog, Can you return a car you just bought?

Repair Attempts Needed to Prove Your Lemon Law Case

To prevail in a lemon law case, you will have to show that you made “reasonable attempts” to fix the mechanical or electrical problem. These guidelines include:

1. The vehicle had a minimum of two repairs attempted for a defect that could lead to death or serious injury.
2. You brought the vehicle to the dealership at least four times to remedy the exact same flaw.
3. The vehicle has been at an authorized dealership for repairs of the same defect for at least 30 days since you acquired it.

If your vehicle falls under these guidelines and is 18 months old or less and has under 18,000 miles on the odometer, then you probably have a successful lemon law claim. But even if your car, SUV, truck, motorcycle, or RV falls outside the above guidelines, you could still be entitled to a legal remedy. The Irvine lemon law attorneys at Neale & Fhima have had outstanding success in finding ways to qualify defective vehicles for lemon law protection.

Irvine Lemon Law FAQs

Our Irvine, CA, lemon law lawyers hear a lot of the same questions over and over from clients. So we’ve provided some frequently asked questions with answers here that we hope are helpful.

What kinds of defects are not covered under the lemon law?

The California lemon law doesn’t cover defects caused by owner abuse, motor vehicle accidents, repair attempts by unauthorized agents, and after-market installations. You must take your vehicle to an authorized agent when making repair attempts to fix your defective vehicle if you want the California lemon law protections to apply.

Who pays my legal fees in a lemon law case?

The vehicle manufacturer pays your attorney fees and case expenses in a successful Irvine lemon law claim. These fees and expenses are part of the settlement agreement or jury award.

Are boats covered under the California lemon law?

Yes, if you’ve purchased a boat with a chronic mechanical or electrical defect, you can pursue a legal remedy under the California boat lemon law.

Does the California lemon law apply in private sales?

Unfortunately, no. Many Californians do not know that the lemon law does not protect them in a private sale, even if the car has the original manufacturer’s warranty still in effect.

If you have additional questions about the Irvine lemon law, we’d be glad to answer them for you. Call us for a free initial consultation at 888-407-2955.

Used Cars Qualify for Lemon Law, Too, Under Some Circumstances

If you get push-back when buying a used car regarding the history of the vehicle, this could tell you it has been wrecked or salvaged. Also, pay very close attention to how the brakes, lights, blinkers, and windows work to ensure the vehicle is safe. And review the maintenance record to see that the oil was changed regularly and other routine service items were performed. The California lemon law does cover some used cars, but not all, if you discover a defect. Used cars with the following 3 warranties can qualify for the lemon law:

1. Transferred New Car Warranty
2. Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
3. Lemon Law Buyback Warranty.

Read our recent blogs about buying a car “as is” and additional tips about lemon law claims.

Statute of Limitations on Lemon Law Claims

The statute of limitations for filing a lemon law claim in California is four (4) years from the date a consumer knew or should have known that the vehicle was a lemon. This does not mean that if you have had your vehicle for more than four years, you cannot bring a lemon law claim. Our Irvine lemon law attorneys at Neale & Fhima have successfully “lemoned” vehicles that are more than 10 years old. If you have purchased or leased a lemon, you’ll want to start the buyback process as soon as possible. After the statute of limitations has passed, a judge can dismiss your case. Don’t hesitate to contact an Irvine lemon law attorney if you have questions about the statute of limitations.

Choices for Compensation

Typically, you have two options for a lemon law remedy.

Repurchase/Buyback Option

The dealership refunds your down payment, taxes, and monthly payments to date, and pays off your car loan directly to the bank or lending institution. It takes back the vehicle.

Replacement Option

The manufacturer trades your defective vehicle in for a similar car, truck, SUV, or electric vehicle without a defect.

In some limited circumstances, we may be able to negotiate a third option – “cash and keep” – in which the dealership pays you a lump sum of money to compensate for the defect and you keep the vehicle you have.

Five Benefits of Choosing Us for Your Irvine Lemon Law Claim

Going up against a major auto manufacturer isn’t easy. To win, you need to have experience, resources, and dedication on your side. With this in mind, here are five benefits of choosing Neale & Fhima for your lemon law claim in Irvine, CA:

First,if we win, the manufacturer will be required to pay our legal fees.

Second, we know how to win. Over the last 40 years, our attorneys have maintained a 99% success rate across lemon law claims and other types of cases we handle. Altogether, we have helped thousands of clients in Irvine and throughout Southern California recover more than $50 million in financial compensation.

Third, it costs you nothing to learn about your rights under California’s lemon law. We offer free, no-obligation initial consultations, and we are happy to talk to you either in person or over the phone.

Fourth, at Neale & Fhima, we treat our clients the way we would want to be treated. This means:

• You can expect to be treated like a person, not a case file;
• You can expect us to answer your calls and provide straight answers to your questions;
• You can expect to receive personalized advice that has your best interests in mind;
• You can expect to work directly with your lawyer; and,
• You can expect us to work tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome in your case.

With some law firms, you hand over your claim and wait weeks or months to find out what’s happening. At Neale & Fhima, we take a different approach. We communicate with our clients throughout the lemon law process, and our Irvine lemon law lawyers will help you make informed decisions so that you remain in control.

Finally, with us, your case is personal. We will use the unique details of your situation to build your claim, and our lemon law attorneys will develop a strategy designed to secure a resolution that meets your unique needs. We invest personally and financially in our clients’ claims, and we are 100% committed to doing what it takes to win.

Contact an Irvine, CA Lemon Law Attorney Today

Unfortunately, many dealerships and auto manufacturers make it extremely difficult for their customers to exercise their rights. If you are being stonewalled, or if you have tried repeatedly to get your vehicle fixed without results, we encourage you to contact our lemon law attorneys about pursuing a claim in California. To get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, call 888-407-2955 or get in touch with us online today.

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