How Much Does a San Bernardino Lemon Law Lawyer Cost?

The help of a San Bernardino lemon law lawyer costs nothing out of pocket if you win your claim.  

Under California lemon law, an automaker must pay attorney fees, costs, and expenses, if the automaker is held liable under the state’s lemon law. If the automaker is required to pay you a refund or to replace your vehicle, they will also be responsible for paying your attorney. 

Many experienced San Bernardino lemon law attorneys also work on a contingency basis. They only collect a fee if your case succeeds. If you don’t win your case, the automaker does not have to pay your lawyer, and neither do you. 

When an automaker is liable under California lemon law, they owe the vehicle buyer-specific damages. These include: 

• Either a replacement vehicle or a refund;
• Incidental and consequential damages; 
• Civil Penalties, if proved; and
• Attorney’s fees and costs and expenses. 

As the vehicle owner, you may choose whether you want a replacement vehicle or a refund. The automaker cannot force your decision. A lemon law refund is also known as a “buyback.” California lemon law contains a formula for calculating the value of a buyback. 

Incidental and consequential damages are money you lose because of the problems with your vehicle. For example, if you had to take a taxi to work every day for two months because your car was in the shop, you may receive repayment of your taxi fare as a form of incidental or consequential damages. If your vehicle had been safe to drive, you wouldn’t have needed a taxi. 

Civil Penalties are additional damages on top of your actual damages. If the automaker willfully fails to buyback or replace your vehicle under California’s lemon law, you may also be entitled to additional damages up to two times your actual damages. Civil penalties are designed to punish and discourage willful failure to comply with the law by the automakers.

Your lawyer’s fees and costs and expenses are also included in the total. If the automaker is liable for selling you a lemon, the automaker must compensate your attorney. 

Unsure whether you have a good lemon law claim? You can also talk to an experienced San Bernardino lemon law attorney at no cost. Speak with one of our Wirtz Law APC lawyers today to learn more about your legal rights and options.