Lemon Law: Show Me The Money!

Are lemon laws for real? Can I really get money back for a lousy car that I purchased? It's a real hunk of junk!

Yes. The answer is, yes you can get your money back. Federal consumer protection laws are on your side. Whether you are in California, Massachusetts, Wisconsin or somewhere in between, there are new state lemon laws that offer consumers a wide array of protection against buying lemon vehicles. Generally you can be rewarded a cash settlement or a replacement of the vehicle in question.

The good news is, you shouldn't have to pay any attorneys or lawyers fees because these will be paid by the manufacturer or seller of the lemon vehicle. Don't be afraid to find a lemon law lawyer or a lemon law attorney! Lemon law is an established code of law that has been around for a long time. There is a set protocol and the process has been vetted over time!

If you are like most people you may be thinking: I already got screwed once! I don't want to get screwed again by a lawyer! Don't let other people tell you they know better! Your Uncle, your neighbor your mechanic! They may not have your best interest at heart!

If you bought a car and it has immediate problems that weren't brought to light in the sale, go back and get your money! If you had to immediately take your new or used vehicle in for repairs, especially multiple repairs, keep all your documentation to show the continuity of the work done or estimates reported.

Someone once said the difference between the rich and the poor is the poor never save their receipts. One of the most important aspects of lemon law lawsuits is what was said and what wasn't said. What was documented to prove that dialogue is the whole shebang. It may look like a fine print monster, but take a gander (magnifying glass in hand) at the contract between you and the car's seller. Look for any details that the seller may have tried to abscond. If it's all mumbo jumbo to you, don't worry, your lemon law lawyer will be able to figure it out. But make sure you save any receipts from the sale or any mechanical or repair work.

Also make sure you take personal notes. Dates, times and who said what. It may seem incidental, but paper work wins lawsuits. You can hand write notes, then transcribe them to typed text later.

Do what you can to educate yourself on the lemon laws. Buy a lemon law book. Go to the library and check one out. You may have to pay an initial fee to hire a lawyer, but a law passed in 1975 called the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act guarantees that if you win, your lawyers fees will be covered by the manufacturer or whomever sold you the car. In the field of lemon law, there are many experienced attorneys. If you try a newbie attorney just to save a couple bucks you may do so to your detriment in the case of lemon law, the risk is up to you!  A good attorney will make all the difference in negotiating a proprietary settlement for you and your clunker.

Know your rights! Don't be afraid of attorneys and make the lemon law work for you!