What is Florida Lemon Law?
If you have ever bought a car from a dealership, you may already be familiar with the concept of lemon law. Hopefully, you have never had to invoke this law, even though it has protected you through any process of buying a passenger vehicle before. If you are not familiar with the law, it is a protective measure for people buying cars from dealerships. If a dealership sells a car with a serious mechanical defect, then the consumer may be eligible for a full replacement of the vehicle.
Is My Car a Lemon?
If you recently bought a passenger vehicle from a dealership and are having mechanical problems, you may have a lemon. Lemon laws cover non-conformities, which are defined as “a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of a vehicle.” Take your car to a trusted mechanic to have them look over the vehicle. You can declare that your car is a lemon if your defect or conditions go beyond the warranty and that you have made reasonable attempts to remedy the issue.
Determining a Substantial Defect
If you drive over a curb on your way out of the car dealership and ruin your alignment, this is not considered a substantial defect — the owner causes it. However, if you drive your car off of the lot and realize that your steering column is wholly loose and unsafe, then you are dealing with something that can be considered a substantial defect. Substantial defects affect the safety of the vehicle, meaning that a scrape in your upholstery or another simple cosmetic issue is not covered.
What To Do With a Lemon Car in Florida
If you believe that you have been sold a lemon, the first thing that you should do is contact a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer. Even if you have not been in an accident, a big part of your argument will be that your and your passengers’ safety was at risk in the vehicle, and their expertise about car accidents will be a significant resource for you. Your attorney will be able to walk you through the appropriate steps to take and will contact the agencies and begin the processes necessary to get your taken care of as quickly as possible. Hopefully, you never need to invoke these types of consumer protections again, so enlisting the help of a professional will save you a lot of time that you would otherwise need to spend learning about these laws and processes.
Do Not Wait To Take Action
The longer that you wait to take action, the harder it will be to claim a lemon. The dealership or its representatives will raise the question of why you didn’t report the issue sooner and could argue that the problems arose after you took ownership. The longer you wait, the longer that you are risking your safety in a dangerous vehicle.
