It’s important to know that you have legal rights when it comes to a defective vehicle. The Song Beverly Act and other laws afford you protections commonly known under the umbrella term “lemon law”. In California, after meeting certain standards, you may be eligible for a refund or exchange of your vehicle. So why might you be subject to a decision you may have never heard about?
Opt Out and Avoid Losing your Lemon Law Rights
Class action lawsuits are one form of litigation that helps millions of claims regarding similar issues from bogging down the court systems. In the case of Fiat Chrysler, they have decided to settle, without admitting wrongdoing, with owners of the 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee, 2015 Jeep Renegade, 2015 Chrysler 200, and the 2015 Ram ProMaster City that came with the then-new nine-speed automatic transmission.
The case is designed to limit further liability for FCA, wherein they offer just $2,000 or a trade-in value of $4,000 for these vehicles, or an additional six-year, 100,000-mile warranty to each of the vehicle owners, known as the class. They don’t have to worry about future litigation unless people opt out. And they hope that no one does, because at least it’s something. It’s just not a lot, unless you’re the company who is saving tens of millions of dollars or the lead plaintiffs’ attorneys who makes 30 percent of the entire sum distributed to the class.
How You Can Do Better
Yes, you must act on your own, but it’s your own legal rights you’re protecting. If you opt out of the settlement by January 2, 2019, you can pursue a California lemon law claim. Consulting with an experienced litigator about the facts regarding your specific vehicle sets the stage for a stronger case against Fiat Chrysler if you own one of these vehicles. Rather than getting a small guaranteed check, you may be able to get the full compensatory damages the facts of your case merit. Get in touch with a lemon law lawyer today.
