In the United States, if you’re continuously having problems with a defective vehicle purchased or leased recently, you may be able to receive compensation under Lemon Law or consumer protection law. You can contact a specialized attorney or file the claim on your own if it is a minor case.
Consumer Law To Protect United States Consumers
The consumer protection law protects consumers from purchasing vehicles with defects. It was designed to help consumers get the car they paid for, even if it has been damaged or defective.
These laws vary by state, but they all have similar goals: to ensure that consumers receive what they’re owed and don’t have to deal with unfair practices or companies who aren’t willing to stand by their promises.
In most states, consumer protection laws require manufacturers or sellers of defective products to provide a replacement or refund at no cost when a product has an inherent defect.
General Rules Under Consumer Protection Law
There are many reasons that you might be able to receive compensation after buying a lemon (defective vehicle), but it varies by state.
For example, in California, the law requires the following for qualifying:
- Four unsuccessful repair attempts
- Car out of service for 30 days
- Two unsuccessful repair attempts for a serious defect that could result in death or serious injury within 18 months
The qualifying owners facing car troubles must send a direct written notice to the manufacturer.
In addition to these general rules about when you can file a claim under the law, each state has specific requirements for what must be done before filing a suit against a manufacturer or dealer who sold defective products.
Hiring An Attorney Can Help With your Case
If you are filing a claim yourself, you need to gather evidence proving how the car is defective. You can do this by taking photos and videos of the issue or contacting local police departments and asking them for assistance with documentation.
It’s also important to keep track of any receipts or other documents related to the purchase of your vehicle so that, if necessary, they can be used as proof later in court proceedings.
If hiring an attorney is what works best for you and your situation (and it usually will), they will do all of this work while representing you during settlement negotiations with manufacturers like GM or Ford Motor Company (FMC).
If there isn’t enough money available through negotiations alone—which sometimes happens—then other options are still available: filing complaints against FMC through their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, filing claims directly against FMC through its attorneys, etc.
If you have tried negotiating a settlement with the manufacturer and they refuse, you can file a lawsuit in court.
To sue for defective vehicles, you must have evidence of these defects. While this may sound like a lot of work, having the right attorney on your side can be worth it.
