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— Common Questions

Lemon Law Q&A.

Nothing, if you have a legitimate case. California’s lemon law requires manufacturers to pay reasonable attorney fees when consumers win. Our fee comes from the manufacturer, not from your settlement. We work entirely on contingency — no fees unless we win.
 

EXAMPLES

  • Engine stalling repeatedly despite 3+ repair attempts
  • Brakes failing to respond correctly after multiple fixes
  • Transmission slipping or failing within the warranty period
Most cases resolve in 3 to 6 months. Manufacturers know we’re prepared to litigate, which often results in faster settlements. Complex cases involving luxury vehicles or willful violations may take longer, but tend to recover more.
No. California’s lemon law covers any vehicle still under manufacturer warranty, including certified pre-owned vehicles. If your vehicle has an active factory warranty and persistent defects, you likely have a case.
Dealers don’t decide what’s a lemon — the law does. Dealers and manufacturers routinely tell consumers their vehicles don’t qualify. Often they’re wrong. Get an independent legal evaluation before accepting that answer.
The most important documents are repair orders (showing each visit to the dealer), your purchase agreement, and warranty information. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of them — we can obtain repair records directly from manufacturers and dealers.
Yes, in most cases. You can continue driving your vehicle as long as it’s safe. Be aware that the manufacturer’s repurchase calculation includes a usage offset for miles driven, but this is typically modest and doesn’t significantly impact your recovery.

Minor inconveniences like a squeaky door or a loose cup holder typically can qualify. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, safety, or value. Multiple minor issues combined may strengthen your case.

EXAMPLES

  • Camera isn’t working
  • Screen freezes
  • Air condition issues
  • Check engine light goes on and off
 
Yes, used vehicles can be covered if they were sold with a manufacturer’s warranty still in effect or a certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty. Private party sales with no warranty are generally not covered.
 

EXAMPLES

  • A 2-year-old CPO Toyota with 1 year of factory warranty remaining — covered
  • A used car purchased from a dealership with a full manufacturer warranty — covered
  • A private sale “as-is” vehicle with no warranty — not covered
If your claim is successful, you may be entitled to a full or partial refund of the purchase price, a replacement vehicle of equal value, or a cash settlement. The manufacturer may also be required to cover your attorney’s fees.
 

EXAMPLES

  • Full buyback: original price, taxes, registration, and loan payoff returned
  • Replacement: a comparable new vehicle swapped in place of your lemon
  • Cash settlement: a negotiated payout without returning the vehicle
Yes. California Lemon Law covers leased vehicles in the same way it covers purchased ones, as long as the defect occurs during the manufacturer’s warranty period. If your leased car qualifies, you may be entitled to a refund of all payments made, cancellation of the lease, and reimbursement of fees.
 

EXAMPLES

  • A leased Honda with recurring transmission issues repaired 4 times — qualifies
  • Lease payments, down payment, and fees reimbursed upon a successful claim
  • Remaining lease obligation cancelled if the vehicle is deemed a lemon
This is one of the most common defenses manufacturers use. If the dealer cannot reproduce the issue, it does not automatically mean your claim is invalid. Keeping thorough records of when the problem occurs — including videos, written logs, and repair orders — can be critical evidence.
 

EXAMPLES

  • Recording a video on your phone each time the engine misfires
  • Keeping a written log with dates, mileage, and descriptions of each incident
  • Requesting that the dealer note “unable to replicate” in the repair order — this still counts as a repair attempt
Yes. If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer’s buyback must include paying off your remaining loan balance. You should not be left with a debt on a vehicle you no longer have.
 

EXAMPLES

  • $18,000 remaining on your auto loan — manufacturer pays it off as part of the buyback
  • Down payment and most or all monthly payments already made are also refunded
  • You walk away with no remaining financial obligation to the lender
Mileage can affect the amount of your refund through what is called a “usage deduction,” which accounts for the miles you drove before the defect first appeared. However, high mileage alone does not disqualify your claim as long as the defect occurred within the warranty period.
 

EXAMPLES

  • Defect appeared at 5,000 miles — very small usage deduction applied to refund
  • Defect appeared at 20,000 miles — larger deduction, but claim can still be valid
  • Defect reported at 45,000 miles on a 50,000-mile warranty — still within coverage
Documentation is one of the most important parts of a successful Lemon Law case. You should hold on to everything related to your vehicle’s purchase and repair history from day one.
 

EXAMPLES

  • All repair orders and service records from the dealership
  • Your original purchase or lease agreement, warranty documents, and window sticker
  • Photos, videos, and a personal log noting dates and descriptions of each defect occurrence

Personal Injury Q&A.

Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, agreed to in advance. If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
California’s general statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years from the date of injury. However, claims against government entities have a 6-month deadline. Don’t wait — evidence disappears, witnesses move, and missed deadlines are usually fatal to a case.
Almost certainly not. Insurance companies make low offers early because they know most people don’t know what their case is worth. The first offer is rarely close to fair value, especially before you’ve completed medical treatment. Have an attorney evaluate before signing anything.
California uses pure comparative fault — you can recover even if you’re 99% at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you’re 25% at fault and damages are $100,000, you recover $75,000.
Simple cases can resolve in 4–6 months. Complex cases or those requiring litigation can take 1–3 years. We work as quickly as your case allows — but never at the expense of full value. Some cases settle faster, but at a discount that isn’t worth it.
Call us immediately. Get medical attention, even for seemingly minor injuries. Document everything — photos, witness contacts, police report. Don’t give recorded statements to the other side’s insurance. Don’t post on social media. Don’t sign anything before calling us.