The Importance of Acquiring Service Reports and Repair Invoices
When trying to take advantage of the California Lemon Law, it’s of the utmost importance to have documentation that proves your case. Whether it’s for routine maintenance, a minor or major repair, or warranty and purchase information, invoices play a major part in proving that you’ve been sold a lemon.
A reputable lemon law lawyer such as the Kaloustian Law Group will require these documents as proof to help win your case. When dealing with the lemon law, invoices are required as proof to show when repairs were made, how much they cost, and to what extent the damage is to the car you just recently purchased. Just about any California lemon law attorney will need detailed records of these things in order to win your case.
What exactly is the Lemon Law California? And what do California lemon law attorneys require to properly handle your case and help you win in court? Let’s discuss these things now.
The California Lemon Law covers new cars. It covers used cars too if there is still time remaining on the manufacturer’s warranty. The Lemon Law covers:
- Cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs. It also covers the chassis, the chassis cab, and the drive train of a motor home. After-market parts such as van conversions are not included in the lemon law.
- Auto Dealer-owned vehicles and demonstrator vehicles.
- Vehicles purchased and/or leased for personal use, family, or household purposes.
- Many vehicles that are purchased or leased mainly for business use.
The Lemon Law does not cover:
- Vehicles that are not registered under California’s Vehicle Code, such as off-road vehicles.
- Vehicles that have been abused or neglected to the point of disrepair.
Once again, it is really necessary to have all of the paperwork and invoices related to your new vehicle purchase, as well as any repair work or routine maintenance on it. Lemon laws apply mainly to newer vehicles that still have time left on their warranties. It generally applies to vehicles you were the original owner of, but also may apply to a used vehicle that you’ve purchased, where there is still time left on the original manufacturer’s warranty.
It’s important to keep all warranty information and paperwork in a safe and secure place. This also applies to any repair work and maintenance records you have for your vehicle. a ca lemon law attorney will need proof of these things should you have to go to court over being sold a lemon and needing to sue the dealership or private owner for the cost of the vehicle or repairs.
CA lemon law attorneys are able to tell you when the lemon law applies, and you have a good chance of winning a court case. You might ask, “When does the Lemon Law apply?” Here are general guidelines for it.
California’s Lemon Law applies when a reasonable number of repair attempts have been made to the vehicle. This is called the “Lemon Law Presumption”.
The Lemon Law Presumption applies if the following statements are true:
- The problems your car is having are covered under the original manufacturer’s warranty.
- The problem occurs within 18 months of purchase or within 18,000 miles.
- The problem reduces the usage, value, or safety of the vehicle for you if these problems were not caused by abuse or neglect.
- If the warranty requires it, you have notified the manufacturer of the problems.
This may also apply if any one of the following is also true:
- You’ve taken the vehicle in for repairs four or more times for the same problem, and it’s still not fixed.
- You’ve taken the vehicle in for repairs two or more times for a problem that’s severe enough to cause death or serious bodily injury, and it’s still not fixed.
- Your vehicle has been in the shop for longer than 30 days for the repair of any problem covered by the warranty.
If your vehicle meets these criteria, the Lemon Law presumes a reasonable number of repair attempts have been made and you may be entitled to a replacement or a refund. So, keeping all your service reports and repair invoices handy and organized will help your lawyer prove your lemon law case.
