Lemon Law Basics

You Have More Chances To Win When Your Lemon law Attorney Claims The Compensation

2006-10-23T18:53:00.000+03:00

Lemon law is a state law of the United States, whereby the Government protects the right of the consumers who are deceived with a defective piece of automobile that is still under its warranty period. Lemon law differs from one state to another and like all other legal matters; there are people with specialization in this field who are called Lemon law attorneys. A lemon law attorney will fight your case against the automobile manufacturer / dealer and will help you to receive proper compensation.

The role of the lemon law attorney

Every defective piece of automobile may not come under lemon law and hence before filing any kind of case, it is wise to ascertain with the help of your lemon law attorney, whether your vehicle can be regarded as a "lemon" or not. In spite of varying versions of lemon laws in varied states, it is possible to form a general definition. A vehicle with a severe manufacturing defect (such as to affect its performance, value or safety) that has required repairing on more than four occasions or any vehicle that is not in working condition for 30 days or more within the first year of purchase, can be termed as a "lemon" and is covered by the lemon law.

If you own such a vehicle, you are eligible to file a lawsuit against your car manufacturer. Initially, the manufacturer may try to pull the stunt by saying that in your purchase / lease contract you have wavered the rights by agreeing on a certain clause or may try to persuade you for mediation or even may deny any liability. After receiving the notice of denial of your lemon law claims, let your attorney handle the case.

Your lemon law attorney will then write a letter to the car manufacturer and on receiving the reply (mostly a denial) he will file the summons and lodge a lawsuit. A competent lawyer with lemon law background and experience will help you to obtain a replacement or a refund for the disputed vehicle. Moreover, he will make the manufacturer pay the cost incurred by you on repair and legal fees, too.

How to find a competent lemon law attorney?

Though any attorney can fight a lemon lawsuit, it's wise to go for a specialized one, with say, 20 years of experience in this field. The prior experience of handling the trials or hearing the similar cases enable the lemon law attorney to know the law thoroughly and to understand the concealed motives of the car company. You can find the reference of such lemon law attorneys in the Attorney Directory from the Resources for Attorneys, who also maintain a website. Moreover, you can find a lawyer from the recommendation of a relative / friend or can contact the bar association for a lawyer referral service. Generally, the attorney should not charge for an initial consultation but you are required to keep your chequebook ready for the following phase.

Therefore before taking a legal action regarding a defective automobile do not forget to consult a lemon law attorney.

by: Kevin Bishop

Lemon Laws and Extended Warranties - What You Should Know

2006-10-08T11:52:00.000+03:00

Lemon laws are regulations enforced by various states that protect customers
from defective vehicles. Different states have different rules when it comes to
lemon laws, but most of them share some common aspects.

For example, lemon laws require that the problem with the vehicle be taken
care of by the manufacturer, not the car dealership. There are certain
characteristics a vehicle must meet to be qualified as a lemon. If a car is
worked on repeatedly for the same issue and the issue keeps reoccuring, then the
car will most likely be designated a lemon. If you purchase a lemon, you are
often entitled to some sort of compensation that deals with how much you paid
for the vehicle and how many miles are on it. As stated before, different states
have different lemon laws.

Some states cover used cars under their lemon laws, while some only cover new
vehicles. There are many websites where you can find out your state's particular
policy regarding lemon vehicles. Simply go to the search engine of your choice
and type in your state's name followed by 'lemon law.' You will then be
presented with multiple websites that can educate you on your particular state's
policies regarding lemon laws.

So...even if your state has a lemon law, do you need an extended warranty?
The answer is a definite yes. Cars that are not qualified as lemons can suffer
wear, tear, and component failure. If your state does have a lemon law, it's
still quite prudent to purchase an extended warranty. Problems with a vehicle do
not necessarily qualify it as a lemon, and that's a crucial fact you need to
understand when considering purchasing a warranty. If you fail to purchase an
extended warranty and end up needing repair, it's unlikely that your state's
lemon laws will cover you, unless of course the vehicle has experienced the same
problem multiple times with no record of satisfactory repair after numerous
attempts.

There are many types of extended auto warranties available. You can purchase
one from the dealership where you got your vehicle, or go to the source and deal
directly with a company that specializes in extended auto warranties.

What your warranty will cover depends on what kind of policy you choose.
Ideally, you will want a policy that covers parts and labor, as well as wear,
tear and breakdown. Some plans will require you to pay a deductible, others
won't.

Be sure to do your research and choose a warranty provider and plan that
suits your needs and your budget. By being educated, you can save yourself a lot
of trouble and avoid being duped into getting a policy that you do not want.
Before shopping for a policy, be clear on what you need, and don't let slick
salespeople convince you otherwise.

by: Jackie Jones

Are Lemon Law Lawyers Really Worth The Money?

2006-09-30T15:25:00.000+03:00

Lemon law had been created to protect the consumer from faulty vehicles. But in order to ensure complete understanding of the law and filing a suit one needs to consult lemon law lawyers. It is not easy to sue the manufacturers with proper help. Consumers who find themselves stuck with lemons can find redress through lemon laws. Each state has its own version of these laws and requires consumers to take certain actions in order to remedy the situation.

Various competent lemon law lawyers, attorneys and law firms ensure consumer rights to be made aware to the consumers. Such lemon law lawyers handle all kinds of consumer cases for all defective vehicles including cars, trucks, mini-vans, SUV’s, recreational vehicles and campers, full size vans, boats, motorcycles and even jet skis. Such lemon law lawyers also offer help for consumer protection laws a defective computer or other consumer products. The lemon law lawyers, attorneys or law firms enable consumers get compensation for their defective vehicles and other products.

Good lemon law lawyers first identify whether the automobile is a lemon or not. Several lemon law lawyers and attorneys have readymade questionnaire that a consumer needs to fill out. Based on the replies received the lemon law lawyers identify if the vehicle is a lemon or not. Most of the lemon law lawyers have websites and the questionnaire can either be freely downloaded or filled online.

Lemon law lawyers have substantially greater negotiation power and can achieve better results. Most of the lemon law lawyers have worked successfully in the consumer field for several years developing extensive legal knowledge. A few of lemon law lawyers also know the contacts within the manufacturers which may prove to be helpful while filing a suit.

One does not necessarily need lemon law lawyers all the time. In some states with proper documentation one can easily file a complaint but in some states one necessarily needs to hire lemon law lawyers.

Some states also allow consumer to recover fees for lemon law lawyers where as some states also make you them for manufacturer’s lemon law lawyers in case they lose. If lemon law lawyers sue under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, then the fees for lemon law lawyers are awarded if the case if won.

In certain cases manufacturers attempt to convince the consumer that the consumer was waived of the rights when they have signed the contract during the lease or the purchase. The lemon law lawyers and attorneys ensure that consumer understands that no no clause or waiver can waive off consumer rights if the vehicle proves to be defective and the lemon law comes in to full force.

As with most legal matters, it is wise to consult with licensed, competent lemon law lawyers or attorneys in state of residence that knows the details of the law. Many lemon law lawyers and attorneys offer free consultations, and do not charge a fee unless consumer wins the case. Such lemon law lawyers even seek attorney's fees from the manufacturer, and the fees are usually granted to the prevailing party.

by: Earl Powers

Lemon Law Case Assistance-How to Fight and Win

2006-09-28T18:43:00.000+03:00

Some consumers make the assumption that handling their Lemon Law claim themselves saves them money. Before you decide to "go it alone", here are three things that are important to know.

1. Lemon Law Claims are complicated and you will waste much of your time and create unnecessary headaches for yourself.

Trying to research your rights and write threatening letters will usually cause you more frustration than it's worth. Further, if you fail on your own, you will have wasted precious time. Or worse, what if you accept an offer and sign a release which you will regret later (including losing your Legal rights).

2. Consumers have virtually no negotiating power with the manufacturer. They can't cause the economic pain and publicity that a lawsuit can for the Manufacturer.

Knowing the state and federal Lemon Laws does not mean that you will be treated with respect. The car companies still play games, much like insurance companies. If you represent yourself, the manufacturer will likely drag out the case in hopes that you will either go away or take little or nothing to settle.

When you hire an experienced attorney, there are no games. Cases get resolved quickly and the compensation you receive is fair.

3. Consumers get less money!

For the above reasons, attorney negotiated settlements are normally substantially higher than one's negotiated by consumer's alone. Chances are your recovery will be worth substantially less if you represent yourself (and you will have done all the work). Some consumers have been known to accept a month's payment, when they are really entitled to all their money back! If you select a law office that has substantial Lemon Law experience, the manufacturer will already know your Law Firm and what the expected compensation will need to be to settle the claim.

by Scott Hallman

The Letter of the Law

2006-09-20T16:56:00.000+03:00

Laws are passed for three reasons:

1. The Law serves the public need, like the criminal laws against fraud. 2. The Law serves special interest needs, like the billions of dollars of "pork-barrel spending attached to most legislation passed by Congress. 3. The Law serves the needs of Government, like the Tax Code or laws denying accused Terrorists of rights under our Constitution.

The weakness in the legal system is that the written Law (The Letter of the Law) never completely reflects the intent of the Law (The Spirit of the Law). For instance, a car dealer can sell you a lemon, but is very unlikely to be charged under the criminal code for the act. And, so more laws are passed to close the loophole that only create more loopholes. In the end, the legal system of any country is only as good as the people are willing to comply with both the Letter and Spirit of the Law.

As the trend in the States has been toward the passage of more and more laws that service special interest or government interest issues, the willingness of the people to comply with the Law has been in decline.

The British Legal System of which America is an heir had a solution to this problem. It was in the practice of not only applying the Law, but the rulings on the Law that had occurred in the Land before the current case was held. These Rulings, done by juries included the right for the jury to decide the Law was wrong. Americans lost this right to review the merits of the Law in 1899, when the U.S. Supreme Court held that a judge was not required to tell the jury of their right to reject the Law under which the accused was being tried. The legal system defends this lose of the right of the people to evaluate the merits of any Law on the grounds that it would lead to a chaotic legal system. The fact is that the legal system didnt collapse in Britain after the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. It is undergoing failure since the 1899 Supreme Court decision.

The core legal problem for Americans is that they are losing their rights. The gap between the Bill of Rights and the rights of the accused is widening. The Press has lost its right to protect confidential sources. This means that fewer people informed of what the Government is actually doing will talk to reporters. The Court recently ruled that the U.S. President is not a King and does not have a divine right to undertake searches without warrants. The list of fading civil rights grows as does the passage of Laws that dont serve the public interest.

The defense against this trend toward living in 1984 is simply to comply with the Letter of the Law while doing whatever you may believe to be in your best interest. Its a matter of having a global vision and moving some of your assets beyond the reach of Washington.

Anyone can become an Enemy of the State. After WWII, the enemies of America according to our Government were Communists. This policy created the McCarthy Hearings, blacklisting socialists, etc. However, what damage did the Communist "Fifth Column" actually do to America? With the decline of the U.S.S.R, the Government temporarily opted to have the far right (Ruby Ridge), the far left (SLA), organized crime and drug cartels as the Enemy of the State. Since 9/11, the Enemy of the State has been Fundamental Islamic Extremists. These 20,000 or so aspiring suicide bombers are lead by a fanatic living in a cave somewhere in the mountains of Pakistan. Do they hate America? Yes. However, its the Government in Washington that is working hard to bring down America. The laws, rules and regulations that we have passed are destroying our economy. In one month, Washington does more damage to the America people than Osama has done in five years. We come back to the issue that the Laws are pass are often not in the best public interest.

The individual Americans defense against insanity is to comply with the Letter of Laws that dont make sense and then do whatever you feel serves your best interests. The publics defense against a legal system going in the wrong direction is to vote the politicians out and put in some honest folks with common sense. Since I dont see the public requiring intelligent, honest politicians, your only defense is to company with the letter of the Law and Globalize to Survive.

by: William Cate

Top 4 Lemon Law Myths - Don’t Fall For These Traps

2006-09-17T18:47:00.000+03:00

MYTH #1: You are not entitled to anything if your vehicle has been fixed.

In many states, if you meet one of the triggers in the State or Federal Lemon Law that deem your car a Lemon, you are legally entitled to get rid of your Lemon or get cash, even if the manufacturer later fixes your vehicle. After all, why should you have to drive around in a potentially unsafe vehicle in order to be protected by the Law? If they cannot fix your vehicle in a reasonable amount of time, your rights are triggered and there is nothing the manufacturer can do to take those away from you, including fixing the car months later.

MYTH #2: You have no case because you have traded in your vehicle

You can recover thousands of dollars of cash even if you have traded in your vehicle! Most State and Federal Laws clearly provide for cash back even after you have traded in your vehicle. Have you ever thought about all the money you paid for a car that did not live up to the standards that were advertised by the manufacturer? Or were you forced to roll "negative equity" from the Lemon that you traded in into the purchase price of your new car, thus increasing the cost of your new car? The Law recognizes this as being unfair. Due to the problems you had with your automobile, you simply did not get what you paid for it. You got something less than what you bargained for. That is the basis of your damages and these can be recovered even if you no longer have possession of your vehicle!

MYTH #3: Your car does not qualify for Lemon Law relief

In many States, there are no easy black and white “qualifications” for you to recover thousands of dollars or for you to get rid of your vehicle. This is definitely true of the Federal Lemon Law. If someone who is not looking out for your best interests, such as the dealer, told you this - be careful! Naturally, they have the car company's best interests at heart. This is the last person you should listen to. In fact, it has been rumored that the Manufacturers actually train dealer personnel to minimize the chances of a Lemon Law suits being filed by various methods. Also, many times the dealer employees have never even read the Law, nor are they licensed attorneys. More importantly, there is more than one Lemon Law and other consumer protection Laws that can be used to help you recover money, in addition to the State Lemon Law.

MYTH # 4: You must file your Lemon Law claim within a very short period of time, such as 1 or 2 years or 12,000 to 18,000 miles.

This is commonly misunderstood by people who are not trained in the Law, i.e. non-lawyers who in trying to be helpful, often do more harm than good. You usually have up to 4 years from the date your warranty was breached (i.e. after multiple repair attempts) to file a claim under a State or a Federal Lemon Law. You may have even longer in certain States and under other consumer protection Laws.

To make sure you don't fall victim to any misinformation, here's how to get the facts fast:

Use this Lemon Law Lawyer finder, to find an experienced Lemon Law attorney that knows the Laws and the "tricks" dealers and manufacturers often use on inexperienced vehicle owners.

Scott Hallman
The American Lemon Law Center was established with you, the consumer in mind, and provides all of the information you need to make your Lemon Law case as strong as possible. If you need further information about Lemon Laws, visit our Web site at http://www.americanlemonlawcenter.com

Lemon Laws Protect The Consumer

2006-07-27T17:13:00.000+03:00

Lemon laws are United States Laws designed to protect the rights
of consumers. They are usually used for vehicles but apply to all
commercial articles. In this article we will concentrate on Lemon
Laws as applicable to vehicles. A lemon is a term used to describe a
new vehicle that needs excessive repair even though it is new. It has
to meet the following criteria:

Age. Usually for vehicles less than a year old.

Warranty. Usually within the warranty period. In some states the
warranty period is not recognized and the cases may be entertained
even if the vehicle is out of warranty period depending upon the
discretion of the court. The rights of consumers by virtue of Lemon
laws may exceed the warranties given by the manufacturer.

Repairs. The vehicle needs frequent identical repair, usually at
least 4 times. The repairs should be major repairs that affect the
operation, safety and value of the vehicle.

Down Time of the Vehicle. If the vehicle is down for more than 30
days in a year due to defect then it comes under the ambit of lemon
laws. The 30 days need not be consecutive days.

The lemon laws cover only new vehicles and not used vehicles. The
vehicle owners should note few points that help in proving the case
in court.

Repair Order. A repair order should be obtained for every repair
visit. The repair order should detail date, problem or diagnosis and
attempted repair on the vehicle.

Purchase documents. Purchase documents like contracts,
warranties, bills etc should be preserved.

Lemon Law Notice. A lemon law notice should be served to the
manufacturer for a refund or a replacement vehicle. The manufacturer
should respond within 30 days. For normal wear and tear in the lemon
vehicle there should be no deduction from the manufacturer.

Manufacturers Arbitration Program. Some states make it mandatory
to use the manufacturers arbitration program if available before
suing them in court.

Attorney. Utilize the services of an attorney as they are aware
of the details of the laws. Many lawyers work on contingency basis,
which means that you pay the lawyer if you win the case. Usually the
courts award double the cost of the vehicle plus the cost of
litigation if you win. Most such litigations are settled outside the
court, so it is wise to hire a competent lawyer who can negotiate to
your benefit.

As with most laws, Lemon laws vary from state to state, however
the principle remains the same, which is protection of the consumers
interest.

Keith George always writes about valuable news reviews. A
related resource is "http://lemon-laws-inflorida.info/"

How to Buy a New Car

2006-05-23T18:19:00.000+03:00

Car buying is not a task to be taken lightly. The cost of a new
car equals almost what my parents paid for their first home. It's
imperative to do behind the scenes research to ensure you get a
great deal.

Do not be in a hurry. Car dealers can detect the scent of
desperation a mile away! If you are totally without
transportation, rent a vehicle until you find the right car. If
you rush your purchase, you will usually end up on the bad end of
the deal.

You can uncover the typical retail cost of a specific make and
model right on the internet. With a little extra research, you
can discover the wholesale cost as well. These two pieces of
information give you an edge when it comes to negotiation.

It's best to work toward a win-win situation with the car
salesperson. They need to make some money on the deal, and you
want to pay a fair price. You can often negotiate a price that is
$500 above dealer cost, or about 20% off the sticker price. Make
sure you take your calculator with you when car hunting.

You can often order a car with *custom* option choices. This
could save you hundreds of dollars. You might wait a couple of
weeks, but why pay for options that you do not need?

Always check with the dealership to see if you can return the car
if you do not like it. Many dealerships now offer this option.
Some dealerships will give you a three day trial period in which
to try the car.

It is a good idea to wait until the end of the month to go car
hunting. Salespersons who want to meet a certain quota will be
eager to strike a deal.

Knowing the value of your old car makes it easier to negotiate a
better price for it. Try not to talk about a trade-in possibility
until you get a purchase price. Sometimes this is difficult, as
most salespeople will ask upfront about a trade in.

I took my car to one lot, and was told the trade in value was
$1,200. Another dealership said they would give me $3,500 for the
same car! So do your research to make sure you receive a fair
price on your used vehicle. Stick to your guns when it comes to
getting the value of your trade-in, especially if you've had your
car serviced regularly.

A service contract will likely be brought into the negotiation.
Most consumer information shows no need to buy an extra contract
on a new car, as it's not likely a problem will occur during the
first months of use.

Whatever you do, always read the fine print of any contract
before signing it. Ask questions about what certain phrases mean
if and when you do not understand something.

Also, just because a car is brand new doesn't mean you should buy
it without asking questions. New cars can land in the lemon
category as well as used ones. Keep on your toes during the
negotiation process. You will enjoy both getting a new car, AND
creating a win-win situation for yourself and the dealer.

Lemon Law – Don't be a Victim

2006-03-30T15:41:00.000+03:00

Lemon Law - Don't be a Victim

In a lifetime the purchase of a vehicle is probably the second most biggest purchase a regular consumer will make, and thus the lemon laws have been designed with the aim to prevent any wrong doings or faults occurring after a sale from a trusted manufacturer or dealership. Lemon laws differ from state to state across America, although the very basics of the law are standard throughout the United States.

The lemon law allows consumers a standard definition of what considers a vehicle to be classed as a lemon. The law also states that the manufacturer is to be held responsible for problems and additionally continues to define how matters should be handled when a lemon is in involved. The lemon laws set up a warranty period that is usually between a 12 and 24 month period. As well as this it also specifies how many attempts must be made to correct the defect before a refund or replacement is ordered. Generally serious defects that would affect the safety and security of passengers whilst in the vehicle are only granted one attempt to the dangerous error. Defects of a substantially lesser value are allowed three attempts. When a refund has been issued there are dedications for use of the vehicle, usually correlating with the number of miles on the vehicle. Not every vehicles situation qualifies under the lemon law, so checking one local state regulation is important in determining whether or not one can instruct the use of the law.

Once a consumer is aware of their situation within the lemon law, there are several steps that should be instructed. Repairs have an important legal part of the lemon law, as previously mentioned, and here are a certain number of attempts allowed to try to repair the defect. It is essentially very important that the consumer keeps good repair records to prove the attempts have been made. The manufacturer must always been in the picture and informed of any repairs that have been carried out or attempted to be carried out. It should be then that you are set up to receive a refund or replacement. High stats show that the manufacturer will quite often disagree with you, and thus the consumer may have to go to court to resolve the matter.
by: Paul Callis

Lemon Law

How to Work with Florida's Lemon Law

2006-03-24T22:10:00.000+02:00

If you haven't read the article on "Coverage Under Florida's Lemon
Law," you're strongly encouraged to read that first so that you're
clear on what vehicles, under what circumstances are and aren't
covered by the Florida Lemon Laws. This article is about the
procedures which are necessary when you decide to pursue your rights
under the Florida Lemon Laws.

Your first concern is how long has it been since you bought the
vehicle. A Lemon Law action can be brought during what is generally
called the "Lemon Law Rights Period." This period is the eighteen
(18) months beginning on the original delivery date or the first
twenty-four thousand (24,000) miles. The period ends with whichever
occurs first.

The process required often seems to be both long and complicated.
While it can be discouraging at first, if you are willing to be
patient, stay with it and be sure to follow the procedures carefully,
you can succeed. Don't give up and don't let anything discourage you
from trying.

What follows is an outline of the process, the basic requirements
and the steps involved:

First, within the Lemon Law Rights Period, there must have been
either (a) a minimum of three attempts by the manufacturer or its
agent to repair the vehicle for the same defect (b) the vehicle must
have been unusable for reason of attempted repair by the manufacturer
(or its agent) for one or more defects for a total of thirty days or
more. This does not include any periods for maintenance dictated by
the owner's manual.

Second, when vehicle reaches a cumulative total of fifteen or more
days being out of service for repair by the manufacturer or its agent
for one or more defects, the owner is required to give written notice
of the need for repair, by registered or express mail, to the
manufacturer. Then the manufacturer has one last chance to fix the
defect.

Third, if this final attempt at repair fails, then manufacturer must
either replace or repurchase the motor vehicle within forty days.
However, it isn't automatic. You must continue to follow the proper
procedures to enforce your rights by following these steps:

If the manufacturer has a dispute-settlement procedure then you need
to apply under that procedure. Not every manufacturer does, so be
sure to check with the manufacturer.
If you're not pleased with the decision of the manufacturer's
dispute-settlement procedure, you can then apply to be heard by the
State of Florida's New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board.
If Florida's New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board declines to hear
the case OR it hears the case but makes a ruling against you, you can
now file the case in Circuit Court. If you are appealing from a
ruling against you by the Board, you need to do it within 30 (thirty)
days of that ruling.

In the most general terms, the covered vehicle must have been
subject to repair for the same defect (which impairs the value,
safety or usability of the vehicle) for at least thirty (30) days.
This must occur during the Lemon Law Rights Period. You must also be
acting in good faith and must follow the law in providing proper
notice to the manufacturer. Finally, you will need to submit to
arbitration.

The Office of the Attorney General has published more complete
information in "Preserving Your Rights Under The Lemon Law." You can
obtain this publication through the Division of Consumer Services at:
(800)321-5366 or by writing to:

Office of the Attorney General
Lemon Law Research Unit
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050

by: E.B Randall

Lemon Law

Lemon Law Myths and Misconceptions

2006-03-23T20:01:00.000+02:00

Buying an automobile, truck, or sport utility vehicle is often a
daunting, stressful and expensive process. People pay more money for
their cars than for just about anything other than their homes. And
once the vehicle has been purchased, one hopes that it will run just
fine for the foreseeable future.

But sometimes things go wrong. For those situations, every state has
passed a lemon law, a statute that exists to backup the
manufacturer's written warranty that comes with the vehicle. But most
people don't know anything about lemon laws and rarely give them a
thought until something goes wrong. And once people start to given
lemon laws some thought, they often realize that what they thought
they knew about them is wrong.

Here are a few things about lemon laws that are often misunderstood:

Used cars are covered under state lemon laws. Generally, this is not
true. Most states' lemon laws cover the original owner of a new car
only. If you are the second owner of a car, even if it is still under
warranty, you may find that your state's lemon law doesn't protect
you. There are a few states that cover the car during the duration of
the warranty regardless of the number of owners and a few that even
have special lemon law for used cars. If in doubt, check with your
state's Attorney General's office.

If you buy a new car, you may return it for a refund within three
days of purchase. Again, generally not true. It may be true if you
buy a toaster, but for large purchases such as a car, once you buy
it, you own it. For that reason, make sure that you test drive any
new vehicle that you are thinking about buying. And not just one like
it - drive the exact car you intend to buy. If you are buying a used
car, have an independent mechanic check it out before you buy to make
sure that it is in good order.

The dealer must inform you if the vehicle has been in an accident.
Most states do not require this. Furthermore, it's not always
possible for a dealer to even know if a vehicle has previously been
in an accident. Dealers are, however, generally required to disclose
information about any known damage to the vehicle. Don't expect the
dealer to be forthcoming with information that he or she may not
necessarily want you to know. Be proactive and ask a lot of
questions. And again, if it's a used car, be sure to have an
independent mechanic look it over before you buy.

Lemon laws are there to protect consumers from defects in
workmanship and to make sure that the dealer and/or manufacturer will
repair any problems that arise during the warranty period. But a
lemon law is no substitute for diligence or research on the part of
the buyer. Know what you are getting into before you buy a car, truck
or SUV.

Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of
Retro Marketing

Lemon Law

Wisconsin Lemon Law

2006-03-20T19:06:00.000+02:00

Lemon law in Wisconsin applies both to purchased and leased vehicles. In the event that the car you purchased turns out to be a lemon as defined by Wisconsin lemon law, the manufacturer is obliged to either replace the vehicle free of charge or provide you with a full refund (minus the amortization allowance for accrued mileage).

It should be noted that lemon laws in the United States differ from state to state and therefore the specific provisions of the Wisconsin lemon law may not be entirely applicable to the lemon law in Ohio, Texas or Missouri. Therefore, while this article deals primarily with lemon law in Wisconsin, it should be understood that you should consult with the specific provisions lemon law in your own state before seeking compensation.

Wisconsin lemon law defines a vehicle as a “lemon” if the defect in the car has prevented you from using the vehicle for at least 30 days (not necessarily consecutive). Alternatively, a vehicle is also defined as a “lemon” if the malfunction cannot be fixed after four attempts by the dealer. In order to be eligible for seeking restitution under Wisconsin lemon law, your case must meet the following criteria:

The vehicle must purchased or leased in Wisconsin
The vehicle must be a motorcycle, motor home, car or truck
The vehicle began exhibiting signs of malfunction within the first year after purchase
The vehicle began exhibiting signs of malfunction before the warranty expired
The vehicle’s defects seriously impair the vehicle’s use, safety or value
Within the first year and before the warranty expired, the dealer either failed to repair the defect after making four attempts, or the vehicle was out of order for at least 30 days (not necessarily consecutive) due to these defects

Wisconsin lemon law differentiates between minor and major malfunctions – in order to be eligible for compensation under the local lemon law, your vehicle must have a serious malfunction that is also covered by the warranty. On the bright side, Wisconsin lemon law does not set a specific deadline within which your claim must be filed – instead, it is up to the court to decide whether your case is too old to be accepted or not.

If you feel that you may have a lemon on your hands and would like to pursue your case in accordance with Wisconsin lemon law, consulting with an attorney is probably the best thing you can do if contacting the manufacturer directly fails. To ensure that you have sufficient evidence to substantiate your legal claim, make sure that you always keep receipts of repair orders, even if no actual repairs have been made.

George Chernikov belives that the Internet is the future of commerce as well as information. One of his websites provides additional information about lemon law and can be found at http://wisconsin-lemon-law.info.

Lemon Law

Understanding the Lemon Law

2006-03-17T21:30:00.000+02:00

Are you a victim of a lemon law violator? If so, you have many rightsthat can protect you. Lemon laws were established to help protect theconsumer against the purchase of a bad product. For an example, let'suse cars. If you purchase a car from a dealership or a private ownerand are told that the car is in good working order, they have tostand by this. If you pull it out of the drive way of that dealershiponly to have it break down on the way home, chances are that the carwas not in good shape to begin with.

Dealerships and anyone else selling used cars need to ensure to youthat the car is in the condition they are selling it to you. Theycan't tell you it's brand new if it really has been around for years.In order to protect consumers from not too honest dealers, lemon lawswere created. But, each state has their specific set standards forlemon laws. You can find out what your state's lemon laws are andfind out how they affect you whether you are buying or selling a car.

If you feel you have been a victim of lemon law violations, you haverights. The first thing that you need to accomplish is finding aqualified lemon law attorney. This is important because if you takeon the dealership (as in our example) on your own, chances are goodthat you may miss something, make a mistake to cost you the case, orjust not present yourself in a positive manner. Investing in a lemonlaw attorney can help to ensure that your purchase and case are takencare of in the best possible way.

Lemon laws are there to help you. In order to do so, though, youneed to know how they work in your state and in your situation. Tofind out what your state's lemon laws are, simply look on the state'swebsite or call a qualified lemon law attorney.

Lemon Law

Lemon Law Basics

2006-02-22T15:21:00.000+02:00

Lemon Law Basics

Lemon laws are laws to protect consumers who purchase defectiveautomobiles. For example, if you buy a new or used car and then findout the car has a serious problem that is not fixable, themanufacturers is requested by lemon law to buy back or replace thedefective vehicle if the defect can not be repaired within a certainnumber o attempts or within a certain time frame.

Generally speaking, cars and trucks are covered by lemon laws inmost states, while some states' lemon laws cover motorcycles andmotor homes as well. Also, the exact criteria for what falls under alemon law differ from state to state. Most lemon laws define a lemonas a new vehicle with condition or defect that substantially impairsthe value or use of the vehicle and which has not been repaired aftera reasonable number of attempts.

If you are a victim of a lemon law violation, you should first trysettling the matter with the manufacturer. Talk to the manufacturerabout your situation and see if the manufacture is willing to offer areasonable settlement. If you can't reach a satisfying settlementwith the manufacturer, you can work with an attorney and take thecase to court. Make sure you have enough documents to prove yourvehicle falls under the lemon law.
About the Author
John Lee is an Internet writer who has written articles for a numberof Internet columns and websites, such as Attorney Help (http://www.attorneyhelp.org/ ) and Notary Public Guide (http://www.notarypublicguide.com/ ), etc.

Lemon Law