Top 10 Signs You Hired the Wrong Lawyer for Your Lemon Law Case

Hiring the right lawyer is crucial when you are filing a lemon law claim. If you choose the wrong form of legal representation, it can cost you your money, delay your case, or even result in a complete loss. To prevent this from happening, you should know what signs to look out for when seeking legal assistance.

1. Does Not Specialize in Lemon Law

Lemon Law is a specific area of consumer protection law that varies by state, from what qualifies as a defect, to the remedies available, and the strict deadlines for filing a claim. If your legal representative does not have a clear understanding of your state’s rules, they could direct you to the wrong path, in which you may settle for less than what you are actually entitled to or miss your opportunity to file altogether.

For instance, in California, you may be eligible for not only just a repurchase or replacement vehicle, but also reimbursement for certain things, like registration fees and rental car expenses. Having an inexperienced lawyer on your side could leave that money on the table.

An attorney who does not have any knowledge or expertise may miss important deadlines or fail to pursue the best lemon law remedy available under California regulations. This can make it much more difficult for you to get a proper replacement vehicle or the compensation you deserve. Instead of negotiating confidently with the manufacturer, they may end up agreeing to a low offer just to get the settlement over with.

2. Does Not Explain Your Legal Options Clearly

You should never feel lost or confused after speaking to your lemon law lawyer. If they are unable to provide a clear explanation of what legal options you have available, like whether you should obtain a full repurchase, a replacement vehicle, or cash compensation, you will not be able to make an informed decision that is in your best interests.

A good lemon law attorney will take the time to simplify complex legal terms, walk you through the pros and cons of each option you are presented with, and create a personalized approach with your priorities in mind to ensure you are granted satisfactory results.

3. Rarely Communicates With You

Strong communication is important throughout the duration of a Lemon Law claim, especially since manufacturers and dealers often push back hard. If your legal representative is not giving you frequent updates, you could miss reasonable settlement offers, court dates, or deadlines to submit critical documentation. 

This form of communication can also cause you to develop stress and uncertainty of where your case lies. A skilled lemon law attorney will step in to ensure you are content with the services provided. This includes promptly returning phone calls and explaining the legal process thoroughly.

4. Pressures You to Settle Too Quickly

If your lemon law lawyer is pushing you to accept the first settlement offer without initiating a thorough evaluation into the extent of damages you incurred, like the time you lost without your motor vehicle, rental costs, repair fees, and diminished value, it is considered a major red flag. 

Manufacturers will often try to give low amounts in the early stages of the legal process, hoping the consumer will take it for a quick payout. If your lawyer rushes you into approving an early settlement offer, they may be more interested in clearing your case from their workload rather than doing what is best for you. 

5. Makes You Feel Like You Are Just Another Case

Lemon law claims involve unique circumstances that differentiate one from the other, such as:

• The severity of the defect
• The number of repair attempts
• The manufacturer’s response

If your lemon law attorney treats it just like any other file on their desk, they will fail to incorporate tailored strategies that could better your settlement. You deserve a legal representative who puts valuable time into your case, paying close attention to specific facts and advocating on your behalf to ensure you get a favorable outcome.

6. Fails to Collect Important Evidence

To win a lemon law case, you will need to have strong evidence ready at hand, like:

• Detailed repair records
• Purchase contracts
• Warranty details
• Any form of communication made with the dealer or manufacturer

If your lawyer is not requesting these documents in the beginning stages of the legal process, they are either disorganized or inexperienced. Without securing solid proof, the manufacturer can easily argue that any issues arising from the vehicle are not serious enough to bring about Lemon law protections, or that they were properly repaired. A specialized lemon law attorney would develop a strong evidentiary record early on to maximize your leverage.

7. Misses Deadlines 

Lemon law claims typically have short filing windows. Missing a deadline can significantly damage your case no matter how put together it is. If your attorney is constantly rescheduling meetings, misplacing your documents, or does not know when court filing deadlines are, they could be putting your claim at risk. You need someone who is not only knowledgeable, but also organized and reliable.

8. Guarantees Unrealistic Outcomes

No lemon law attorney should guarantee a particular result, especially if it is done early on. If you are given promises, like a huge payout, without your case being thoroughly reviewed beforehand, you should be skeptical. Overpromising is often a tactic that is used to win clients over, but typically leads to disappointment.

A good lemon law attorney will assess your claim and provide you with a realistic idea of the types of legal challenges you may face and the range of possible outcomes that could follow, even if it is not exactly what you were expecting.

9. Makes You Do Most of the Work

The main reason people hire a legal representative is to have them handle the complicated work. If you find yourself fulfilling their duties, like locating paperwork, sending reminders to your attorney about deadlines, or managing your own case, you are not getting what you paid for. Your lemon law attorney should be:

• Proactively obtaining evidence
• Submitting important documentation
• Negotiating with auto manufacturers
• Preparing for trial, if needed

If you feel like you are doing most of the work, maybe it is time to move on and find someone else who can step in to take on your car lemon law claim.

10. Unclear Billing Practices

Transparency about fees is important to disclose from the very beginning. If your attorney does not provide a clear explanation of how they will be compensated or if you are met with an unexpected charge, it is a big cause for concern.

Some may add on an extra legal fee for certain services without telling you about it upfront. Others could structure their fees in a way that can deeply affect full financial recovery without providing an explanation beforehand

You should always have a written agreement that specifically indicates when and how your lemon law attorney will be paid. If they happen to dodge any inquiries pertaining to billing or give you confusing responses, you could end up paying for more than what you initially expected, even if you win your case.

How Our Lemon Law Attorneys Can Help You

If you have purchased a defective vehicle, you deserve to work alongside a reliable law firm that knows what to do to protect your rights under California Lemon Law. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our legal team focuses on helping consumers who are dealt with a lemon vehicle. We understand how stressful it can be when the car you purchase turns out to be unsafe or constantly in the shop.

Our attorneys have a deep familiarity with legal complexities that may arise in such cases. We will carefully evaluate your situation, negotiate with the manufacturer, and if necessary, defend your rights in the court system. 

Whether you are pursuing a refund, a replacement vehicle, or compensation, we are readily available to help you get a fair settlement. Throughout each stage of your case, we will provide clear communication about the legal services rendered, ensuring you are aware of what we are doing every step of the way.

To book a FREE consultation with an experienced attorney, you can connect with us by calling (213) 927-3700 or completing our convenient online contact form.