When a potential client comes into our California Lemon Law Offices for help with a vehicle that he or she believes is a lemon, one of the first questions asked is, “How long will it take to get rid of my lemon vehicle?”.
The truth is, no one can guarantee how long a California lemon law suit will last. Your attorney is only there to advise you about what is a reasonable settlement. That means you can always choose to settle your case early for less or you can take more time to pursue your case more aggressively and try to obtain a larger monetary recovery. So, if someone tries to tell you that they can “guarantee” how long your California lemon law claim will take, they are not being truthful.
Typically, the manufacturer is required to respond within 30 days to our formal legal demand. Once you have accepted a satisfactory offer it takes approximately another 15 to 30 days to return the vehicle and receive your payment from the manufacturer. Other factors that determine the length it will take to settle your California Lemon Law Claim include:
- How strong is your case? If the vehicle looks like it has been abused or your documentation of the problem is unorganized, the automobile manufacturer will seize the opportunity to make holes in your case. It is important to hire an experienced attorney who knows what to expect from each manufacturer and who goes into the case prepared.
- Is the problem safety related or a repeated problem the dealer is unable to fix? If your lemon problems are safety related the manufacturer is more likely to settle quicker to avoid the risk of injury to customer’s.
- How much money do you want to receive. The California Lemon Law was brought in to protect consumers who have purchased a lemon vehicle. It is designed to return the consumer back to the same financial situation they were in before they purchased their lemon. It is not a money making scheme. If you are willing to settle your lawsuit in exchange for receiving a California lemon law buyback, then vehicle manufacturers are typically willing to settle your claim more quickly.
- Which automobile manufacturer you are dealing with? Every automobile manufacturer interprets and proceeds with California Lemon Law cases differently.
As one of the first California Lemon Law attorney firms, we have been working with all automobile manufacturers for many years and have developed a respectful working relationship with all of them. We know what it takes to settle your case quickly and efficiently while obtaining the best possible results for you. We work hard to avoid taking cases to arbitration, because if you do and the decision is against you, it could later be used as evidence against you in any subsequent future court action against the manufacturer.
If you believe your vehicle could be a lemon, call our California lemon law offices toll free number at 1-888-ExLemon (888.395.3666) or contact us online for a free California lemon law consultation with an experienced attorney. There is no obligation. All you have to lose is your lemon vehicle!
