You’re probably familiar with how some lawyers provide a free consultation. You might also be a bit wary. If you’re dealing with a legal problem, the last thing you want is a hard sell from an attorney on why they can win you substantial compensation. What you do need is real help; an attorney who listens to you and then presents a positive way forward out of the situation.
With lemon law problems, a free case evaluation is particularly valuable. That’s because you want to find a lawyer who offers specialization in this very area of the law. Lemon law attorneys differ from other lawyers, even consumer lawyers, because lemon law cases are all they handle. They’re laser focused on this one area of the law, and that specialized practice is exactly what you need.
Even though the first consultation with a lemon law attorney is free, you want to make the most of your time consulting the lawyer. We’ve put together a few topics you can address, and you can, of course, add your own details, to fit your circumstances. One good way to go about this is to have these topics/questions copied to your phone, or bookmark this blog post. Whether you’ve settled on a lawyer and want to dive into some deep discussion, or you want to interview a few attorneys first, keep these points handy. You’ll make the most of your time and the attorney will get a clear picture of your issue. That will allow them to show you how they will pursue your claim so you can win compensation.
1) Describe Your Problem Fully
Take your time to give the attorney the whole story; how did the vehicle issue start? During what activities or actions does it occur? Give the lawyer a clear understanding of what you’ve been dealing with. Be thorough, so the attorney can grasp how the defect is not only affecting the car’s performance, but also if it is impinging greatly on its safety and value. The main criteria in lemon law cases are unfixable substantial defects that severely impact the vehicle’s use, value or safety.
2) Share Documentation: Proof of Your Claim
After sharing your description of the problem, you must back up your claim with documentation. Be prepared to present the lawyer with repair reports, correspondence with the dealer and manufacturer, your warranty, and all paperwork, personal notes, phone records; everything that can bolster your case. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of these items ready for your initial consultation. Gather as much as you have, and the attorney can advise on how to collect and organize additional evidence, if needed.
Allen Stewart, P.C. provides years of experience winning lemon law cases across the US. Call us now (866-440-2460) for your free consultation, or contact us online
3) Ask for Several Short Case Studies to Gauge Experience
Up to this point, you likely have been doing much of the talking. It’s time to do some active listening. Have the lawyer tell you how they’ve worked with lemon law clients to win compensation. How many cases has the lawyer won in your state? What about complex claim success rates?
The idea here is to find out the level of experience the lawyer has and to get clear answers to questions. Through this discussion, you’ll find out if you’ll feel comfortable and confident with the lawyer pursuing your claim.
4) Discuss How the Lawyer Could Negotiate a Settlement
Most lemon law cases don’t go to court; they get settled. Ask the lawyer how they negotiate settlements and push for the client’s best interests. Ask them to give examples of recent settlements they negotiated, and how they advocated for maximum compensation.
For more information on arbitration and other frequently asked lemon law questions, click here.
5) Ask How the Attorney Fights Back Against Manufacturers Who Dismiss or Avoid Claims
There are times when the manufacturer will try to dismiss, minimize or avoid your claim. Ask the lemon law attorney how they counter these tactics. Have them give examples of how they aggressively stood up for client rights in these situations?
6) Talk to the Lawyer About Their Experience Using Federal Law to Win Lemon Law Cases
This is where you find out if the lawyer has used the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (federal law) to help win lemon law cases. Push for more than a yes answer; have the attorney give examples of warranty breach cases where they used this law to win compensation.
Good job so far! Follow up the previous questions with these final points to wind up your consultation:
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7) How Do You Structure Your Fees for Lemon Law Cases?
Lemon law attorneys usually don’t require upfront fees from clients. They get paid by the manufacturer when you win your case. You don’t owe the lemon law attorney anything should you lose the case. Dig deep in your questioning here to find out the lawyer’s success rate and get it in writing that you will pay no upfront fees.
8) Based on My Situation, How Strong is My Case?
This part is what all your previous questions were leading up to. The attorney will provide their assessment on your claim and tell you if it is a valid lemon law claim. Through their knowledge of state lemon law and federal law, you will find out if your defect qualifies for compensation from the manufacturer.
9) What is the Typical Timeline for Resolving a Lemon Law Case?
It can take a few months to resolve a lemon law case; but every case is different. Yours could take longer, or resolve more quickly. Have the attorney give you a ballpark estimate on timelines so you can have an idea on what to expect.
Lemon laws are confusing. Read our guide to the lemon law complaint process.
10) What are the Possible Outcomes If We Proceed?
Often consumers get to choose either a replacement vehicle, a refund, or a cash settlement. Find out what the rules are in your state and what you might be able to get for compensation should the lawyer pursue your case using federal law.
Why You Need a Lemon Law Attorney
You need a lemon law attorney because knowledge of state and federal law and experience going against manufacturers for compensation is what these attorneys do best. You, hopefully, at most, will deal with a lemon law case once in your life. A lemon law attorney works on these cases every day. Their focus is protecting clients’ rights and getting the client the compensation they deserve for substantial vehicle defects that impact the car’s use, value or safety. It’s this expertise and knowledge that can get you the compensation you want and deserve.
Allen Stewart, P.C. Provides Expert Lemon Law Representation
As you can see from our discussion here, there are many facets to a lemon law case. We encourage you to use our list of questions to help frame your discussions with the attorney. Feel free to add your own points, too, as each case has its unique details.
Allen Stewart, P.C. offers years of experience winning lemon law cases in Texas, California, New York and around the country. We are experts on every type of lemon law, including cases involving all the newest vehicle technologies. Our attorneys are skilled at using federal law, as well, in their pursuit of just compensation for clients.
Some people wonder if they need a lemon law attorney. The manufacturer will push to reduce, dismiss or avoid your lemon law claim. You need an experienced, knowledgeable attorney who aggressively fights for your rights to win compensation. Call Allen Stewart, P.C. (866-440-2460) for your free consultation, or contact us online. Thanks to federal law, our clients pay nothing out of pocket, so contact us now for a free consultation.