The most experienced lemon law attorneys have successfully represented many clients and often get referrals. Reach out to those close to you and find out if they know of a good lemon law attorney; this includes family, friends, and colleagues. If you have an established relationship with a tax attorney, real estate attorney, divorce attorney, or attorney with a specialty dealing with personal property or litigation, then you can also ask them to refer you to a reputable colleague who handles lemon law claims. When those close to you or the peers of a lemon law attorney refer you, it’s a strong indication your potential lawyer is qualified, competent, and has a strong reputation.
Lemon Law Associates of California
San Diego Lemon Law Attorney
Focusing on San Diego Lemon Law and Auto Fraud
Each year too many San Diego consumers fall victim to unethical auto sales practices in which they purchase a vehicle that was not clearly represented or has altered sales documents. Others purchase vehicles do not properly function and the auto manufacturers delay or refuse to fix the problem. Many of these problems are not only inconvenient but dangerous as well.
Lemon Law Associates of California represents consumers who have San Diego consumer vehicle claims regarding lemon law and auto fraud. We provide our clients with aggressive representation that gets results. We also take the time to give each client the individual care he or she deserves. We will never treat you as a number when you choose us to represent your lemon law claims. We will keep you updated on the progress of your claims and are always accessible. We understand the hardships that occur when you have a defective vehicle. You purchased the vehicle in good faith that it would function properly. When it doesn’t and you can’t get it fixed, let us work for you to get the results you should.
We have extensive experience helping San Diego consumers get out of their lemon vehicles and back on the road in reliable transportation. Additionally, we have also helped consumers who have fallen prey to disreputable sales practices. This can range from not understanding the contract, having extra items or services added to the vehicle price without the customer’s knowledge, or not being told about damages to the vehicle such as flood or other damages.
How to Find an Experienced San Diego Lemon Law Attorney
If you have had your car in the shop repeatedly for the same issue, then you might you have a lemon on your hands. You are protected under California’s lemon law, and while you can assert your rights under that law yourself, it’s usually in your best interest to hire an experienced lemon law attorney to file a claim.
Your odds of reaching a settlement agreement or the court ruling in your favor increase when you have a qualified lemon law lawyer in your corner. Many qualified lawyers serve the San Diego area, but if you conduct a little research ahead of time, you can narrow your choices. Here are some tips for finding the most experienced San Diego lemon law attorney.
Ask for Referrals
Read Client Reviews
When you visit a law firm’s website, you can most likely find client testimonials, but those are always pretty one-sided. You need to find more objective reviews. Websites with comprehensive legal directories, like Avvo.com offer more information. You can look up lemon law lawyers in San Diego. Each profile includes contact information and client reviews rating lawyers between one and five stars.
See Susan Yeck’s profile on Avvo.
An Avvo.com profile also displays an overall client rating to demonstrate how past clients feel about an attorney, information about their status with the state licensing authority, and whether an attorney has been sanctioned. When you visit an Avvo.com profile, you can also see a lawyer’s overall score which rates them between one and ten, with the highest numbers indicating the best attorneys.
Research Peer Reviews
The legal community’s consensus regarding an attorney speaks volumes about experience and reputation. Colleagues are unlikely to review favorably someone they know to be inexperienced and ineffective, especially because most peer reviews are blind. You can revisit Avvo.com to see peer endorsements, but other sources also offer peer reviews. The following are three respected sources of peer reviews:
- Martindale-Hubbell. You will find a comprehensive registry at Martindale-Hubbell which includes more than a million practicing lawyers. Each profile provides a bio, contact information, and peer reviews. Lawyers who have been rated with a high level of professional excellence in their practice area receive a special AV designation on their profile. [See Susan Yeck’s Martindale-Hubbell profile here.]
- The Best Lawyers in America. Released once per year, Best Lawyers includes lawyers nominated and evaluated by their peers in a blind voting process. The yearly award includes the best lawyers in the nation from almost 60 practice areas. Those who are named are automatically nominated for the next year and review new nominees. You will find the best experienced San Diego lemon law attorneys on this list at some point.
- Super Lawyers. Inclusion on this coveted list also stems from peer reviews of those who the legal community finds outstanding in their practice area. Only five percent of attorneys from each state from 70 practice areas are included each year.
Read About Accolades and Awards
The legal community has a reputation for handing out awards to its own, but these aren’t empty gestures. Accolades signal to clients and other lawyers that a particular firm or attorney has a strong reputation and valuable experience to serve clients. Although national awards exist, look for awards from the California Lawyers Association and other regional and local awards. Some state awards include:
- Harry B. Sondheim Professional Responsibility Award
- Jack Berman Award of Achievement
- Bernard E. Witkin Medal
- Loren Miller Legal Services Award
Schedule an Initial Consultation
Most firms which specialize in lemon law claims offer a free consultation to prospective clients to determine their eligibility for filing a claim. After doing your homework and narrowing your list of experienced San Diego lemon law attorneys, schedule a consultation with your number one pick. This initial meeting serves as an opportunity for you to ask questions of your potential lawyer to make sure he or she is a good fit.
If you spent time researching the firm and attorney, you already have ample background information. Use this consultation to ask about things you don’t already know, such as the lawyer’s approach to client service, their legal experience, and details related to your lemon law claim. Here are some example questions for your first meeting:
- Will you be working on my claim personally, or will you pass me off to a junior associate?
- Will you respond to emails and phone calls in a timely manner?
- How frequently will you update me about my lemon law claim?
- Can you give me examples of past lemon law cases like mine?
- Can you share examples of past resolutions, settlements, and verdicts you secured for your clients?
- What is your current workload? How many cases are you currently working on?
- How many clients have you represented since you began practicing law?
- Do you foresee any difficulties or challenges with my lemon law case? If so, what are they and how can we overcome them?
Inquire About Courtroom Experience
It’s highly unlikely you will have to go to court in a lemon law case. Most claims are settled beforehand. Yet, when litigation is necessary, you want a skilled and aggressive litigator in your corner, who will obtain the best possible outcome for your lemon law claim. You need to verify your attorney has courtroom experience and the skills necessary to argue your case. You should ask about wins, but it’s more important to ask about cases in which the attorney lost. You should find out why the court didn’t rule in the plaintiff’s favor and what your potential attorney learned from that experience.
How We Can Help You
As a San Diego consumer, you have certain rights if you purchase a vehicle that is not functioning properly. The manufacturer is obligated to correct the problem so you can get back on the road. They expect you to make the monthly payments, so fixing a problem that is their fault shouldn’t be that big of a deal, right?
Unfortunately, too many people have to go through the lengthy process of trying to get their vehicle fixed correctly or receiving adequate compensation.
Lemon Law Associates of California represents consumers who have lemon law claims for new as well as certain used vehicles purchased or leased in California. Specifically, under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (California’s lemon law), a vehicle is defined as having a gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds, or the chassis, chassis cab, and that portion of the motor home devoted to its propulsion. Motorcycles also qualify if they are registered as street legal.
Instead of trying to do it yourself, let our San Diego lemon lawyers work for you. We have extensive experience dealing with auto manufacturers and are known throughout the industry as relentless advocates for our clients. We can help make sure that you are treated fairly and that your claim is handled quickly and professionally.
We also represent clients who have other consumer goods that qualify as lemons. These goods include trailers (fifth wheel or hitch) and motorized boats.
The Lemon Law Applies Only to In-State Purchases
California lemon law only applies if your vehicle was purchased or leased in California.
If you purchased or leased a vehicle or consumer good outside of the state, contact a law firm licensed to practice in that state where the vehicle or consumer good was purchased. In San Diego, we have helped consumers with their lemon law claims. We have worked with all of the major auto manufacturers and are very well known for our tenacious representation of our clients.
We Have Won Landmark Victories
LEMON LAW ASSOCIATES WINS TRIAL INVOLVING USED BMW WITH 46,000 MILES.
Lemon Law Associates just won a month-long jury trial in Northern California near the Sierra Foothills in Cameron Park, California. The case involved a used BMW X-6 with 46,000 miles at the time of purchase.
Our client purchased the car at CarMax with 46,000 miles on it, and had various engine problems until the expiration of the warranty at 50,000 miles. He gave the BMW authorized dealership numerous opportunities to repair it during the remaining warranty. BMW performed Band-Aid repairs and the warranty expired. The plaintiff had to pay for a new engine at great expense.
Lemon Law Associates and Ms. Susan Yeck were able to prove that BMW merely stalled fixing the engine until the warranty expired so the plaintiff had to pay for the repairs. Ms. Yeck was also able to prove that the engine was defective on purchase. This was similar to the Donlen v. Ford case that Lemon Law Associates won on appeal.
After a lengthy trial, the jury agreed that the engine was defective on purchase. Plaintiff was awarded a full repurchase including reimbursement for the engine replacement that BMW required our client to pay. Ms. Yeck was successful in proving breach of implied and express warranties.
Call Our San Diego Auto Fraud Attorneys
Our San Diego auto fraud attorneys can evaluate your claim to determine if you have been the victim of auto fraud. Like any other business, auto dealerships have certain laws and guidelines that must be followed. Unfortunately, some are willing to bend or break rules in order to make the sale, many times and financial risk to the customer. If you believe you have been taken advantage of, let our firm help.
If you are unsure whether you have a valid lemon law or auto fraud claim, call us today at 877-713-4165 or get in touch with one of our San Diego lemon law attorneys through our Contact Form. We will set up a free case evaluation and consultation and if your claim is valid, we can represent your interests and help you get the repair, refund, or replacement vehicle you deserve. We never charge our clients out of pocket expenses or fees. The consultation and case evaluation are free as well.