If you suspect that your vehicle is a lemon and you are going through arbitration with your auto manufacturer, you might be wondering what happens if you disagree with a decision made in arbitration. What if the arbitrator rules that your vehicle is not a lemon? What happens if the arbitrator rules that your vehicle is a lemon, but you think the compensation being offered is unfair?
Here is the good news for a consumer: you are not obligated to accept a decision made in arbitration. Going through arbitration does not bar you from pursuing a lemon law claim. Just the opposite: in some cases, going through arbitration and receiving an unfavorable outcome can strengthen your lemon law claim.
Learn about what presumptions apply to your case if you have already gone through arbitration:
- What is the Lemon Law Presumption?
- How many times do I have to take my car in for repair before it is considered a lemon?
So what are your options? One option is to file a formal lemon law complaint against the auto manufacturer. In other words, a proper lawsuit. The first step to pursuing this lemon law process is to gather your evidence and proof of ownership or lease of the vehicle. The evidence you used in arbitration can likely be used in a formal lemon lawsuit.
The next step is to get a consultation with a lemon law attorney. If you are worried about the costs of retaining a lawyer, do not worry. The California Lemon Law is set up for lemon law attorneys to be paid on a contingency fee basis.
If you have not yet made a decision regarding arbitration, consult a lemon law attorney regarding your legal options.
Consult a Lemon Law Attorney
If you’re not sure whether you want to consult with a lawyer, remember: initial consultations from lemon law firms should come at no cost to you. During the consultation, you may ask about your rights regarding arbitration, the lemon law and the process of filing a lemon law claim.
To ask further questions about your lemon law rights regarding arbitration, call us at 877-217-7676.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2017–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
