When you’re spending a significant sum of money on a new or used vehicle, you expect it to be reliable and serve your needs well. Unfortunately, that’s not everyone’s reality. Many car owners find themselves in the challenging position of having purchased a vehicle that breaks down or performs poorly. Fortunately, if you’ve bought a ‘lemon’, you have more rights than you think to have the situation rectified. Here’s how to choose a lemon law lawyer to represent you:
Ensure the Right Specialization and Local Knowledge
As you start creating a list of viable options, ensure all lawyers you find are in the right area of the law and have local knowledge. Not all lawyers can competently represent all clients in all legal challenges, as there are dozens of specialties. Even within those specialties, some lawyers are more familiar with some states than others.
For example, Hollywood lemon law lawyers competently represent their clients in lemon law in Hollywood and the wider Los Angeles, California area, but may be less adept at criminal defense in New Jersey.
If you’re having trouble finding lawyers with the specialty you need, refer to an online directory or ask friends and family for recommendations.
Confirm Experience
When you’re going up against an auto dealership or manufacturer, you want to have the weight of the law behind you. That’s generally much easier when you have an experienced and highly regarded lawyer by your side.
Don’t be afraid to ask your chosen lemon law attorney about their previous cases, how much legal experience they have, and the satisfied clients they’ve helped. This information can offer much-needed peace of mind.
Check Fee Structure
When you’ve just spent your hard-earned money on a car that doesn’t go, you may not have a great deal of funds set aside for legal fees. In that case, asking about a lawyer’s fee structure is important. You need to know how you’ll be expected to cover their costs.
Most reputable lemon law attorneys offer free consultations and a no-win, no-fee guarantee. This means that you won’t need to pay any out-of-pocket costs to use their legal services. Instead, they take a percentage of your settlement if you win.
Read Reviews
Just as you might read reviews about festivals and shows before attending, you should read reviews about lawyers before hiring them. Reading reviews is a great way to learn about their experience, reputation, and success in legal cases. With this information, you can choose to hire them or keep looking for someone else.
Most reviews are readily available through Google Reviews. However, you can also visit specific legal websites, where many lawyers actively publish the ones they receive.
Ask Questions
If you’ve never been in this situation before, it’s only natural to be unsure about what to expect. That’s why it’s important to ask questions. The more questions you ask, the more confident you may be both in choosing your lawyer and navigating your lemon law situation. Some of the best questions to ask are:
- How many years of experience do you have in lemon law?
- How strong is my case?
- What is your success rate with cases similar to mine?
- Do you specialize in state-specific lemon law cases?
- Does my vehicle qualify as a lemon under state law?
You can also read the content on your chosen lawyer’s website, which may shed more light on the topic of lemon law and all it entails.
Discuss Communication Style
Navigating legal cases can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when you’re fighting a car manufacturer or a well-known local auto dealership. There is a lot on the line, and you don’t always know what’s happening or whether you’ll be successful.
That’s why understanding your lawyer’s communication style is so important. You can set expectations for responsive, transparent discussions about your case’s potential outcomes and timelines, for your peace of mind.
Find out how your lawyer will provide information and updates, such as via the phone, email, letter, or in person. You should also ask whether you’ll be dealing with them directly or receive regular communications from other employees in their office. Learning how they communicate with their clients may help prevent any misunderstandings.
Red Flags to Be Aware Of
Not every lemon law attorney you encounter will be right for you and your legal situation. In fact, some will be best to steer clear of. Here are some red flags to watch for:
- Poor communication: They are slow to respond, provide vague answers, or will only communicate through a legal assistant.
- The fee structure is unclear or unethical: Most lemon law attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, but not all do. If your lawyer is unwilling to clearly explain their fee structure, consider hiring a lawyer who will.
- They make promises about the outcome: No lawyer can guarantee a win for their client. If your lawyer is making promises about winning the case or providing a specific settlement amount, this is unethical.
- A lack of local knowledge: Some lawyers advertise local but aren’t, resulting in delays and a lack of local knowledge. You need a lawyer who understands the laws, rules, and regulations in your area to help create a strong case.
- Disorganization: Taking legal action against an auto dealership or manufacturer requires organization. A lawyer who misplaces documents, misses appointments, or appears unprepared during your initial consultation is a red flag.
- Not listed in the state bar association directory: All lawyers licensed to practice law are listed in your state bar association’s directory. If they don’t appear there, they aren’t licensed.
If you’ve encountered some of these red flags, or simply don’t have full confidence in a lawyer you’ve met with for a free consultation, keep looking. You deserve to hire a lawyer you trust to represent you to the best of their ability.
Realizing you’ve bought a lemon can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your main mode of transport and you need it to be reliable. With these tips, you may improve your chances of choosing a reputable and dependable lemon law attorney who fights for your rights to the outcome you deserve.