Lemon Law Attorney in San Diego California
We Defend Your California Consumer Rights in Los Angeles
San Diego Lemon Law Attorneys
San Diego is often viewed as LA’s more relaxed cousin due to its laid-back lifestyle, surf culture, and friendly community. However, much like LA, San Diego also has a traffic problem. That’s why in San Diego, a reliable vehicle is a non-negotiable. Car trouble in San Diego can put you out of commission for days or even weeks. If you’ve found your car in the repair shop time and again for the same warrantied issue, you may have a lemon on your hands. But remember this: as a California consumer you have rights.
Every factory-made vehicle can’t come to the dealership in perfect working order, and mistakes are bound to happen. That’s why the state of California has put lemon laws into action to protect consumers who unwittingly end up spending their hard-earned money with a lemon. Just know that if you’ve walked off the lot with a lemon, it’s not the end of the road.
Our team of California lemon law experts at Golden Lemon by Compass Law Group, LLP is here to help. With over 100 million dollars recovered for our clients, we’ve got the Midas touch when it comes to lemon law cases. We know California’s lemon laws inside and out and we’re not afraid to face greedy corporate auto manufacturers. Fighting for our clients’ rights is our passion. You can trust us to successfully win back the compensation you deserve.
The Lemon Law in San Diego, California
So what exactly is California’s lemon law and who does it apply to? Every year, 150,000 “lemons”, or defective vehicles, are sold or leased in the state of California. Despite the manufacturer’s best intentions to provide consumers with reliable and efficient vehicles, mistakes happen. Because of this, the state of California has instituted ‘lemon laws’ to protect consumers who end up with a lemon. California’s lemon laws state that if a manufacturer cannot repair a consumer good after a reasonable number of attempts, they are legally required to refund or replace it.
Luckily, if you live in or around San Diego, you’re protected by one of America’s strongest consumer protection laws: the Song-Beverly Act. This is California’s lemon law, and it shields the rights of consumers who have purchased a warrantied good of any kind that is defective. Because of this law, you have the legal right to demand compensation from the manufacturer if you purchase a lemon.
The attorneys at Golden Lemon by Compass Law Group, LLP are experts in California lemon law and have the knowledge and expertise to help you get the refund or replacement you deserve.
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What to Do When You Have a Lemon in San Diego
When you notice a defect in your warrantied vehicle, you should immediately take it to a certified repair shop. Act fast— not only because it is dangerous to operate a defective vehicle, but also because having documentation of the issue will help you file a successful lemon law claim. The repair shop at the dealership where you purchased your vehicle or any certified dealership of your car’s make is the best place to go for repairs.
Remember, for your car to officially be deemed a lemon there must have been multiple failed repair attempts by a certified mechanic. If your car’s defect is serious enough to cause injury or death, only two repair attempts will be required. However, if the recurring issue isn’t life-threatening, you’ll need to allow four repair attempts by the dealer before you can take legal action. If your car has been in their repair shop for more than 30 days regardless of the number of repair attempts you’ve made, it qualifies as a lemon.
Throughout the repair process, be meticulous about getting documentation of each repair attempt. You can use this as evidence for your lemon law claim. Once you’ve determined that your vehicle is a lemon, it’s time to take legal action. Contact an attorney from Golden Lemon by Compass Law Group, LLP. Our cunning and experienced team will let you know whether your lemon law claim is viable and how to get started on the claims process.
How Our San Diego Lemon Law Firm Can Help You
With our help, you can get a full cash refund or a new replacement vehicle through a successful lemon law claim. If your vehicle is a lemon, you have the right to maximum compensation. Our team at Golden Lemon by Compass Law Group, LLP includes California’s top lemon law experts. We understand that investing in a vehicle can be one of the biggest and most expensive purchases you will make in your life. If your investment turns out to be a lemon, we’re here to help. We’ve recovered over 100 million dollars for our clients— and we’ll recover your damages too.
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Most Common Lemon Vehicles in San Diego
Unfortunately, not all cars are made equally and some manufacturers are known for putting more unreliable vehicles on the lot than others. Here is a list of some of the most common lemon vehicles in San Diego.
Most Unreliable Car Makes in San Diego:
- General Motors- 29% of lemon law claims filed
- Fiat Chrysler- 17% of lemon law claims filed
- Ford Motor Company- 13.5% of lemon law claims filed
- Nissan North America- 12.6% of lemon law claims filed
Most Unreliable Car Models in San Diego:
- 2022 Ford Explorer
- 2022 Ford Mustang
- 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2022 Chrysler Pacifica
Some Other Unreliable Manufacturers to Watch Out For
- Fiat
- Cadillac
- Porsche
- Jeep
- Volkswagen
- Subaru
- Tesla
Common Defects in Lemon Vehicles
If you’re experiencing problems with your warrantied vehicle, you may have a lemon on your hands. But you may wonder what defects you should be watching out for. Here is a list of some of the most common issues lemon vehicles exhibit.
Most Common Lemon Defects in San Diego:
- Defective Paint: Paint may chip, become dull or discolored, or fade unusually fast.
- Electrical Issues: Motor, lights, and/or the internal systems of your vehicle are not working properly.
- Power Steering Failure: The wheel of your vehicle is difficult to turn.
- Sudden Acceleration: Your vehicle unexpectedly speeds up without warning or potentially causing collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, or public property.
- Seat Belt Malfunction: Seat Belts that cannot be properly fastened or that fail to work in the case of an accident reduce the safety of your vehicle and qualify it as a lemon.
- Airbag Issues: If your airbags fail to deploy or do so improperly, your car may be defective.
If your vehicle is exhibiting defects that could potentially be life-threatening, don’t wait. Take it to a repair shop and contact a lemon lawyer immediately to avoid harm to yourself and any other passengers who may ride in the vehicle.
What Are You Entitled to If Your Car is a Lemon in San Diego?
So your car is a lemon? Don’t worry– you could be owed thousands in compensation. But what will that compensation look like? The true amount varies on a case-by-case basis, but you could be entitled to as much as three times the total dollar amount you paid for the vehicle in the first place. Typically, in California compensation comes in a few different ways.
Refunds (Buybacks)
One option that is offered to successful lemon law claimants is a vehicle refund or buyback. In this case, all fees related to your purchase will be refunded. This includes everything from sales tax to license and registration fees to financing charges.
Replacement Vehicles
If you enjoyed your car before the defect arose, you can also elect to receive a vehicle replacement from the manufacturer. The new vehicle must be substantially similar to your original one and the manufacturer must pay all taxes and fees associated with the sale. If you financed your lemon, you’ll most likely continue to pay off your loan as if you never received a new vehicle.
Civil Penalties
On top of your refund or replacement, you may also be entitled to payments from civil penalties against the manufacturer. If valid, these penalties can be worth up to twice the worth of your refund or replacement. Keep in mind that civil penalties are only applicable in cases where the manufacturer knowingly broke California’s lemon law. Proving this can be difficult, but not impossible. The earlier you reach out to a lemon law attorney, the higher your chances are of recovering civil penalties.
Attorney’s Fees
If you know your car is a lemon, but you’re worried about affording lawyer fees, don’t sweat it. In the state of California, your vehicle’s manufacturer is required to cover your attorney’s fees in a successful lawsuit. At Golden Lemon by Compass Law Group, LLP, we believe that consumers should never have to pay for legal fees out-of-pocket. We work on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t have to pay us unless we win your case. Our livelihood depends on winning your case, so you can trust that we’ll fight hard for your rights.
Plus, when we win your case, the manufacturer will cover our fees on top of your compensatory refund or replacement. There really is no reason not to hire a lemon lawyer, and the longer you wait to file your claim the more you could be missing out on compensation.
If you are curious about how much your lemon law claim could be worth, the best way to get an accurate estimate is to get in touch with a lemon lawyer.
The Time Frame Of The Lemon Law Process in San Diego
Each lemon law case is different, so that’s important to keep in mind as you navigate your claim. Some cases take longer than others depending on the nature of the claim. If you suspect that your car is a lemon, but haven’t tried for more than one repair, it may take you longer to file your claim due to the fact that you’ll need to make more repair attempts. If you’ve already attempted various repairs, you’ll be able start the claims process with a lemon lawyer right away. This can take 45 to 75 days to file. Next, the manufacturer will review your claim, which can take anywhere from 60 to 120 days or longer. Finally, once the manufacturer has processed your claim, you will enter resolution which can take anywhere from 90 to 180 days or more. Lemon law claims require a long process, but you can trust an attorney from Golden Lemon to make it easy and painless.
How a Lemon Law Attorney Can Help?
If you’ve leased or purchased a defective vehicle in the San Diego area and have made failed attempts to repair a warrantied issue at an authorized dealership, you may be entitled to a full cash refund, cash compensation, or a brand-new replacement vehicle. However, if you try to go it alone, it will be difficult to get the fair amount of compensation you deserve. Auto manufacturers are part of a billion-dollar industry that cares little about the consumer. They have ample funds and some of the country’s most powerful lawyers to back them. You don’t want to face them unprepared. Our dedicated and passionate team of attorneys at Golden Lemon by Compass Law Group, LLP is not afraid to challenge the corporate automaker. We have proven very successful in doing so in the past and will do so with your case.
We handle lemon law cases all across California including San Diego
Golden Lemon attorneys are experts at winning lemon law cases. We have experience with cases and claims involving the following vehicles and many more. Even if you can’t find your car’s make on our list, don’t worry. We’d absolutely love to give you legal advice, and chances are we’ve come across your lemon’s manufacturer before.
Hire a Skilled San Diego Lemon Law Attorney for Your Claim
When life gives you a lemon, remember, you have rights. If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, maximum compensation is your legal right. At Golden Lemon, Our skilled team of attorneys includes San Diego’s top lemon law experts who will fight vehemently for your consumer rights. A car should be one of the greatest financial investments you make, not an albatross around your neck. That’s why justice is our passion when it comes to consumer protection. We’ve recovered over 100 million dollars for our clients, and we’ll recover your money too.
When you choose Golden Lemon by Compass Law Group, LLP, you choose:
- A team of expert lemon law attorneys
- A proven track record
- Zero upfront fees
- A stress-free experience