When a person buys a car the last thing he expects is a hidden defect. But this can happen sometimes. An inexperienced person can sometimes be fooled in to buying a car with defects. This is absolutely undesirable and for giving a weapon to these sufferers a law named Lemon law has been put into effect.
The Lemon law can make the manufacturers replace a defective new car or repair it properly. As a matter of fact, in most of the states of USA the commercial and public vehicles are protected by the Lemon laws. In some states this law covers motor cycles as well. However the criteria may vary from one state to another. If a person becomes a target of Lemon law violation he needs to contact the manufacturer and ask it to repair the defects.
Even if the vehicle of a person does not meet the criteria for filing a Lemon law case, he can still file a case for compensation. But in such a situation it would be advisable to talk with a veteran lawyer.
In case the manufacturer refuses to co operate and offer him a solution, the affected person should consult a Lemon law firm at the earliest. However the person needs to ensure that he has the documents that will help him corroborate the claim in court. One can ask for a total refund as per the provisions of Lemon law. It is important to note how many times the car has undergone repair attempts by the manufacturer.
A person can search for a reliable Lemon law agency in the Internet. He can also ask his colleagues or friends who have gone through similar situations. Before selecting a Lemon law firm or attorney one needs to see at the track record and rate of success. The professional lemon law firms have their web sites and online portfolios. There is nothing wrong in asking a lawyer how many cases he has dealt with in his career.
If a person living in Minnesota is looking for a reputed and reliable Lemon law firm he can count on the services provided by Todd Gadtke's office. Todd has a reputation for solving several important Lemon law cases in Minnesota. He has more than 9 years of experience in dealing with lemon law litigation cases of Minnesota. He also has experience in auto industry trial cases.
Todd and his staff understand how the fun of buying a new vehicle can be marred by the hidden defects in the car. Therefore his firm explains the people their legal rights and needful work. Todd used to work as a trial counsel for General Motors. This experience has made him an expert in the various nuances and loopholes of the Lemon law that the car makers exploit. He is the author of some articles on Car laws as well. In fact, he has association with some reputed legal entities like Minnesota Bar Association, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association and Hennepin County Bar Association.
Thanks to the world wide web, anyone can promote their services on-line through systems like google adwords. This enables law firms to target specific terms and pay to appear under these terms. There is no filter. There currently is no law against doing so. The disturbing fact is that folks can write anything in their ads that they want - there is no control or protocol. Law firms can tell prospective clients they have 20 years experience in a particular state like Pennsylvania where they have not. While we think this is poor form, we don't necessarily fault them, they're trying to make some money. It does mean however, that you may not be getting the service you expect so you need to know who you are hiring.
When hiring a lemon law attorney, it is very important that you ask questions and not rely solely on self-promoting advertisements and websites. Here are some items you should always consider:
Experience - How long has the company been around for?
Honors, Awards and Recognition - Has the company or lawyers received accolades for their service?
Locations - Beware of the fake office! Very few Lemon Law firms have physical offices in other states, but many of them say they do. Try calling the local phone number or stopping by sometime.
Unfortunately, firms sometimes buy "addresses" to look more established and gain new business. We know of one firm that has no offices in many of the states they claim to practice in. If you see a little asterisk explaining that these are "of counsel" locations, it means they are not directly owned or operated by the law firm. Be as wary of the "of counsel" lawyer as you would be of the "of counsel" surgeon. Limited knowledge and lack of experience is often the hallmark of such arrangements and that could detrimentally affect your case.
Credibility - In many states, lawyers are not permitted to use the terms "expert", "specialist", or "premier" in advertising because it gives the public an impression that cannot be verified by objective proof. Sadly, the rules are not always enforced and some firms use them anyway. Rather than accepting the self-promoting tag lines of a law firm, look around and see what community leaders, legislators and the media say.
Former Clients - see if there are testimonials or even blogs from previous clients.
Need more Information? Here are some questions you need to ask a lemon law firm:
- How long has the lawyer been practicing law? - How long has the lawyer practiced Lemon Law? - Does the lawyer have a license to practice in the client's state? (Very important) - Has the lawyer received any recognition, honors or awards for work performed in the client's state? - Has a successful verdict the lawyer tried ever been reported in a legal case reporter? If so, identify the case. - When was the last time the lawyer received a successful verdict in a Lemon Law case? - Can the lawyer provide any references of other clients, attorneys, or judges in the client's state? - If my case cannot be resolved right away, and a lawsuit is necessary, where would it be filed and why? - How is the lawyer compensated? - Is the client advised in writing at the start of the case what their rights and responsibilities are? - Is a mechanical expert utilized by the law firm to help prove the case, and if so, is his/her involvement free to the client? (We have four ASE-certified experts on staff) - What does the client need to do to assist the lawyer in a case? - Does the lawyer have a physical office within the client's state? - Is a lawyer and/or their staff available to speak with clients on a daily basis?
Both Matt Peschong & Paul Fleming are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Matt Peschong has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lemon Law. Matt Peschong is author of this article on . Find more information about. Matt Peschong's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.
Paul Fleming has sinced written about articles on various topics from Alarm System, Family and Lemon Law. Authors Michael Sacks and Paul Fleming represent Kimmel & Silverman who have been providing cost-free, quality legal representation to distressed consumers of "lemon" cars since 1991. Contact them at. Paul Fleming's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.