Welcome to LemonCarLaw.net

April 5th, 2008 by admin

Squeezing compensation out of lemons

If you are one of those people who always seem to get caught out when buying a new or used vehicle then it is a good idea to protect yourself right from the word go. Should you find your vehicle repeatedly throwing up defects, large or small, it is imperative that you note times, dates and hours wasted so that should you press for compensation you have a full history of events to ‘persuade’ the dealer with.

For example, what happens if you break down on a busy highway? Note the defect, the time, how long you had to wait for assistance and lastly the cost and nature of repair. It is also a good idea to note how all of this made you feel since you could claim for distress.

Of course small defects may not be enough in some states to warrant the ‘lemon’ label. In other states just one defect will be adequate. Unfortunately, state laws differ widely on what constitutes a lemon but you should not give up the good fight and accept shoddy goods.

Details of all states and their criteria for classing cars as lemons are available on the internet and it is easy to look up any particular state. Some companies have a ‘buy back’ scheme for cars classified as lemons so you should pay particular attention to their requirements.

If all else fails then of course, once you have enough evidence, you can follow the litigation route to try for compensation. This can be both expensive and time consuming.

Sour deals with lemons

By now most people will understand the term ‘lemon’ when it is applied to cars. That is, a car - new or used - which has defects that were undetectable on purchase but shows themselves up within a given time or warranty period.

Some unscrupulous sellers will hide the true state of the vehicle hoping that the innocent buyer will simply accept the faults and struggle to get them fixed. However, some states have laws protecting the victim from such shoddy acts.

In all cases, if you are not machine minded, it is better to take someone along who knows about engines etc., to give the vehicle the once over. Don’t be in a hurry to buy and take your time asking pertinent questions about the vehicle.

If the car looks like it has been around for a while and yet the miles clocked up seem low chances are that this car has been tampered with. Similarly, uneven wear on tires from right to left or front to back may also be revealing something unsavory.

Once the vehicle has been purchased it is good to get into the habit of noting all defects as and when they occur. Take care to note all ‘down time’ suffered and keep receipts of necessary vehicle hire to replace this vehicle.

Check with your state laws to see if the lemon law has been legislated in your area. Each state differs on what is and what is not considered a lemon. If the lemon law does not apply in your state perhaps it is time to lobby your congressman!

Lemon Car Law strives to bring you the lemon car law information you are looking for. If you don’t find it here, contact us and we will find you the information you need.