Because lemon laws vary among the states, the first criterion for answering the question, “How do I find the best lemon lawyers near me” involves choosing a lawyer who practices lemon law in the state where you live. This is especially true for consumers that live in cities that border a different state. If you live in a city such as Cincinnati, Ohio, but you purchased a new car in Kentucky that turned out to be a lemon, then you should hire an attorney who has a Kentucky license to practice lemon law.
Let’s review a few tips to help you choose the best lemon law attorney.
Understand State Law
You do not have to become as knowledgeable as a lemon lawyer, but you need to put in the time required to understand the basic legal principles that your state applies to lemon laws. The first thing to discover is how your state defines a defective product.
Here are some other questions to answer when it comes to your state’s lemon laws:
- How many “reasonable attempts” must the retailer or manufacturer make to qualify the product as defective?
- Has the vehicle sat unused for more than 30 days for repairs?
- Did you contribute to the defect(s)?
- How long after you bought the product did it display signs of one or more defects?
Search for Red Flags
The process of elimination is an effective and way to answer the question, “How do I find the best lemon lawyers near me.” You must be highly selective when it comes to deciding which lemon law attorney is the best to represent you.
The following red flags should eliminate any candidate on your shortlist:
- Does not specialize in lemon law
- Asks for out-of-pocket expenses
- Does not offer a free case evaluation
- Hands over your case to a paralegal
You want to hire an attorney who makes a living litigating lemon law cases. An attorney might claim to practice product liability law, but you might discover the lawyer does not have much of a record winning lemon law cases. Any attorney that asks for upfront out-of-pocket expenses does not have your best interests in mind. A free case evaluation gives you insight into whether the lawyer sitting across from you is the best legal counsel to handle your complaint. As perhaps the most important criterion, you want the lemon law attorney that you hire to be the principal litigator for your case.
Experience Matters
The more years in practice, the better it is when hiring a lemon law attorney. However, it is not just the number of years that matter. You want to hire a lawyer who has compiled a record of winning numerous lemon law claims. Experience is also important when it involves negotiating a settlement with the retailer that sold you the defective product or the manufacturer that made it.
Network Like You Do for Finding a Job
When you conduct a job search, one of the most emphasized elements is to talk with the people you know to receive leads on finding employment. Use the same strategy when it comes to hiring a lemon lawyer. Ask trusted friends, family members, and professional peers for recommendations. You should also talk with any attorneys that you know for recommendations of a state-licensed lemon law attorney.
Read Online Reviews
If you receive a recommendation from someone you know, you should not instantly hire the recommended lawyer. You still have to conduct research, and one of the most helpful research tools is online client reviews. Reviews left on sites such as Yelp and Google can go a long way towards helping you select the right lemon lawyer to handle your complaint. An attorney who has received dozens of positive client reviews can be the legal counsel you need to get justice for purchasing a defective product.