When Should You Hire a Lawyer for a Defective Vehicle Claim?

In earlier times, most people relied on public transport to commute from one place to another. Owning a personal vehicle, such as a car, was a privilege for the wealthy. In today’s world, car ownership is on the rise. 

In 2022 alone, around 91.7% of households in the United States owned at least one vehicle for personal use. While you’re careful in selecting the best vehicle for yourself, sometimes you might encounter potential defects. What should you do if you have a defective vehicle? In this article, we’ll discuss seven instances where it would be advisable for you to hire a lawyer. 

Multiple Repairs of Vehicle Under Warranty

There may be a large defect in your vehicle that is not getting fixed even after undergoing multiple repair attempts. The best option in a situation like this would be hiring a lawyer. Each state in the United States has its lemon laws, designed to protect customers who purchase or lease new or sometimes used vehicles with irreparable defects. A defective vehicle is termed as a “lemon,” and there is a specific time frame to report your vehicle as one. For example, In Illinois, the window to report your vehicle as a lemon is 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever condition gets fulfilled first. 

Hiring a highly skilled lemon law attorney can help you understand the legalities of filing an official claim for your vehicle. Your lawyer would look into your case, negotiate with the manufacturer, and present the best solutions to you. 

Safety-Related Vehicle Defects

Your vehicle might have a defect that significantly impacts the vehicle’s safety. You may have faulty airbags or brakes that don’t work properly, creating safety hazards for you on the road. Suppose you have approached the manufacturer to repair these defects, but the issue persists. In that case, hiring a lawyer can help you file a claim intended for your safety and recover damages. 

Commercial Vehicle Defects

There may be a possibility that you’ve purchased commercial vehicles to run your own business. Severe vehicle defects can slow down your operations and lead to financial losses. For example, if you’ve purchased delivery trucks for your business, there may be issues with the tires, brakes, or even the cargo tie-downs. In addition to experiencing road accidents, you may damage or lose your products. It is essential to check for any defects you notice in your purchased vehicles and get them repaired immediately.

Warranty Issues With Manufacturer

You may encounter a troublesome dealer or manufacturer who fails to comply with the warranty issued for your vehicle. If they insist that the defects presented are not covered under your warranty, taking up this issue with an experienced attorney is advisable. The lawyer can look into the limitations and coverage of your warranty and ensure that the manufacturer upholds the warranty. 

Accident Causing Vehicle Defects

Hiring a lawyer can be helpful if a vehicle defect becomes a direct cause of an accident, resulting in damage to the vehicle itself or an injury. The lawyer can help with filing a personal injury lawsuit. By doing so, you could gain compensation for medical bills, vehicle damage, and other losses incurred. 

Hidden Vehicle Defects

There is a chance that you will discover a hidden defect in your vehicle after purchasing it, which can disturb the performance of your vehicle and create a safety risk. In this case, a lawyer can help you attain financial compensation for the repairs. Opting for legal help can also ensure that dealers uphold their repair obligations towards customers. 

Used Car Defects

If you purchased a used vehicle with defects not disclosed by the dealer prior to your purchase, a lemon law attorney may be able to help you. Since each state has its distinct set of laws, a lawyer can help you understand what legal claims you can make per state laws. 

For example, In California, if your used vehicle has undergone a reasonable number of repair attempts, such as the manufacturer could not fix the defects in four or more attempts or your vehicle has been in the repair shop for more than 30 days, you are then eligible to file for a refund claim. 

In New Jersey, the law only covers your used vehicle if you’ve bought it from a licensed dealer. The warranty length depends on the mileage of the used motor vehicle, which is checked to see if you’re eligible to file a claim. However, you cannot file for any claim if you’ve bought your vehicle for less than $30,000 or if the car is more than seven years old. Opting for legal help will also ensure that your case is thoroughly studied and the dealer is held accountable by law if they have concealed the defects on purpose. 

Endnote

Vehicle defects can significantly affect road performance and create safety hazards for drivers, resulting in unwanted accidents. Taking advantage of your state’s lemon laws and hiring a lawyer to assist you is advisable in these situations.

Lemon law attorneys can help you understand state regulations and advise you on filing suitable claims for receiving financial compensation for any losses that occur. You should research and select an attorney who is highly experienced and successful in dealing with vehicle defect claims to help you achieve the best outcome.