If you find yourself stranded with a lemon car, we have good news for you. There are State and Federal Laws which can protect you. It’s important, however, to choose the right law firm, a group of experienced lawyers who have access to manufacturer counsel and the knowledge needed to win your claim. If you select the wrong firm, it can spell disaster for your case and your wallet. It’s vital to ask the right questions and get the best information before deciding which firm should take on your case.
1. How long have they been handling lemon law claims?
When choosing a lemon law attorney, find out how long the firm has been in business and ask about the cases they have handled. Ask specifically about their lemon law experience and outcomes. Include these questions:-
• How long has the lawyer been practicing lemon law?
• Does the lawyer have a license to practice in the client’s state?
• When was the last successful verdict in a lemon law case?
• Can the lawyer provide testimonials?
• How is the lawyer compensated? (State Lemon Laws and Federal Warranty Laws provide fee-shifting provisions enabling attorneys to recover their fees form their manufacturers if they prevail. A good firm should take your claim completely free of charge with no cost or risk, win or lose.)
• Does the lawyer practice in the client’s state regularly?
2. How credible is the attorney?
In many states, lawyers are not permitted to use the words “expert”, “specialist”, or “premier” in advertising because the impression cannot be verified by objective proof. According to Rule 7.4(b)(1) and (2) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct and Peel v. Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of Illinois, 496 U.S. 91, 110 L.Ed.2d 83, 110 S.Ct. 2281, a lawyer may not state that he is a “specialist” unless the lawyer has been certified as a specialist by the approved certifying organization. That lawyer may then only hold himself out as a “specialist” in accordance with the rules of that authority. Sometimes the rules are not enforced with firms wrongfully using these words. The take home rule: don’t rely on a law firm’s self-promoting tag lines as evidence of their capability. Make sure they can provide the service you need and have the credibility to back it up.
3. Do they work as lemon law advocates?
Another way to work out the status of a lemon lawyer is to find out if they work as advocates in lemon law. Are they testifying in courts and making arguments to improve legislation? Have they made class-actions that have led to substantial improvements in the production of cars? Are they involved in information seminars to educate consumers about their rights? A firm involved in this kind of advocacy has your interests at heart.
Owning a defective vehicle is an extremely frustrating experience, but the Laws are on your side. Find the right lemon law lawyer and you could find yourself on the road to recovery before you know it.
ABOUT KIMMEL & SILVERMAN
Celebrating their twentieth anniversary as consumer advocates, Kimmel & Silverman provides 100% cost-free lemon law and breach of warranty representation to consumers throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington DC, New York, Michigan, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Ohio. For more lemon law information about Kimmel and Silverman, and the services they provide, please call 1-800-LEMON-LAW (1-800-536-6652) or visit the firm’s website at www.lemonlaw.com.
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