Washington State Lemon Law allows customers to be safe when a serious safety defect appears on their new or leased vehicle, protecting them from getting stuck with an unreliable vehicle. The Lemon Law is part of the national customer purchase protection for new motor vehicles that covers all buyers under Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act; however, each state has their version of the Lemon Law that may or may not include a particular section, but in general, both the state and the federal Lemon Law are working in favor of buyers of defective vehicles.
If you are looking for how to file a Lemon law claim in Washington State, the process is simple, but it takes some time to go through it. To start working on the claim, vehicle owners will need to gather relevant information about the defects and verify if the vehicle qualifies as a lemon to continue with the process.
At Easy Lemon, our commitment to helping you obtain a fair deal and receive the compensation you deserve is our priority. Our services as Lemon law attorneys go beyond the simple to assist you in your legal process. Likewise, we will help you as your Washington Lemon law attorneys, offering you a free case evaluation; contact us today, and we will help you submit a valid claim for your lemon car.
In this blog, we will cover the Lemon Law, its qualifications, how to file a claim in Washington State, gathering information. We will also cover how to contact manufacturers and dealerships, what to do if your case reaches the court, and attorney fees.
What Qualifies as a Lemon Car in Washington State?
Not all defective vehicles are lemons, but any new, used, or leased car can become a lemon under certain conditions. However, for a car to be considered a lemon, it needs to have a significant defect that affects safety, value, or use. Depending on these factors, the vehicle can be a lemon. Even if the car is leased, Washington’s Lemon Law covers it, but under specific conditions.
- Types of Defects Covered by the Washington Lemon Law:
- Repeated mechanical issues: This can include the engine, brakes, transmission, or anything related to the mechanical parts of the car or the chassis; it can include one or more defects.
- Substantial non-conformities: Including driving experience, lights, interior, or others.
The eligibility criteria for considering a used, leased, or new motor vehicle for the Washington Lemon Law have different requirements you need to meet if you want to file a claim. The vehicle should meet these ones:
- Have a commercial vehicle such as a motorcycle, motor home, RV, or other vehicle. This law only covers trucks under 19,000 lbs.
- Personal vehicles like cars, SUVs, and others.
- For new vehicles, purchased or leased, the customer should have 24 months or 24,000 miles manufacturer’s warranty.
- The defect must occur within the specific time period, and it must include 4 or more repair attempts for the same issue, 2 or more repair attempts to fix an issue that can cause injury or death, or the vehicle being out of service for more than 30 days for any repair.
- The vehicle must be under the manufacturer’s written warranty.
Can You File a Lemon Law Claim for Used Cars in Washington?
Washington Lemon Law covers used, leased, and new vehicle owners, but it has requirements which each customer must meet before presenting a claim under Washington Lemon Law. First, the warranty requirements say that the purchased or leased car must have the original manufacturer’s warranty, which was signed at the time of the service, and that the substantial defect was discovered during this period.
When the defect occurs, the vehicle should be in the warranty period. Moreover, Washington Lemon Law covers used cars sold by a dealer, which may be covered by this law, even without a written warranty, if there’s an implied warranty of merchantability.
Filing a Lemon Law claim in Washington State requires proving that the originally purchased or leased vehicle is under the eligibility period and should have a life-threatening malfunction, substantially impair, or impact its use or resale value. For used vehicles, they should be under the original manufacturer’s warranty to file a claim under the Lemon Law.
How Do I File a Lemon Law Claim in Washington State?
Filing a Lemon Law claim in Washington State is a process everyone can follow, but the endless paperwork and its complexity can sometimes make the situation more complicated. That’s why, to obtain a settlement and compensation, you must follow specific steps to avoid getting stuck with a lemon.
Confirm Your Vehicle Meets Lemon Law Criteria
How do you know if your vehicle is a lemon? For the Washington Lemon Law, your car must be under the specified warranty of 24 months or 24,000 miles. However, that’s not the only criterion your car should meet because the substantial impairment must be discovered during that time. If the defect affects your car’s use, safety, or value, it’s a sign you may have a lemon.
Lemon Law also requires the vehicle to have at least one repair attempt which lasted more than 30 days, making it a reasonable offset where the car is not available to be used. If you have had 4 or more repair attempts for the same issue, your car is eligible for the Washington Lemon Law. When the consumer’s claim meets these requirements, your used, leased, or new vehicle is considered a lemon.
Gather and Organize All Repair Records
Documentation is key to filing a Lemon Law claim in Washington State. In other words, receipts, communications, photos, videos, and more are fundamental to building a solid case for the Washington Lemon Law. Gathering all the repair attempts, keeping track of what repairs were made, and keeping the service records is essential to presenting a claim.
In documentation, you must give details about each repair attempt as much as possible, including communication with the dealership or the manufacturer. During this period, you must include the date, time, and period the car was in the repair shop. It’s vital to note the multiple repair attempts, whether they were fixed or the vehicle continued with the issue. The documentation can also include photos or videos showing the defect, if possible, before and after your visit to the repair shop.
Notify the Manufacturer or Dealer in Writing
Once you have all the evidence and documentation proving you have a lemon vehicle, the next step is to send a written request directly to the manufacturer or dealership explaining the issues and requesting a solution. This communication must be through official channels and with a formal tone to make your claim.
In this written request, you must include all relevant details, such as repair attempts and history, dates, and a detailed explanation of the defect of your leased, used, or new motor vehicle. Keep a copy of the letter and proof of delivery if you use email; if you send the notification by mail, document the date and the waiting time just in case you don’t hear from the manufacturer in a timely manner.
Allow the Manufacturer a Final Opportunity to Resolve the Issue
Before moving to the next step, you must give the dealer or manufacturer a chance to repair the vehicle after you send the request. Although there have been multiple repair attempts, the Lemon Law requires you to allow the manufacturer or dealer an opportunity to fix the problem within a reasonable time frame; usually, this varies according to the defect. If a defect isn’t fixed after the attempts or is unrepairable, you can now proceed with your claim.
Contact a Lemon Law Attorney for Expert Guidance
You can move forward with the process of filing a claim, but legal help will strengthen your claim because you will have an expert in Lemon Law claims who will guide you through the complete journey of having a Lemon car. Legal representation can be the piece you need to significantly improve your chances of obtaining a fair settlement, which can include a replacement vehicle, a refund, and even some punitive damages.
A Lemon law lawyer will ensure you meet all deadlines, organize, and be ready to defend you when there’s a request for arbitration or a court proceeding, protecting you and your case. At Easy Lemon, we offer a free case evaluation to help you during your legal journey. Contact us today and tell us your story.
Consider Mediation or Arbitration as an Alternative
Washington state offers different options before reaching the court. It even promotes the resolution through other options, primarily using Washington State’s Dispute Resolution Process, which incentivizes mediation and resolves disputes in local communities. Likewise, Washington Lemon Law is one of the states that offers an arbitration hearing and process that involves a neutral third party who will help resolve the dispute quickly.
The arbitration process involving the arbitration hearing is a more affordable option than the court. Still, this process doesn’t guarantee the desired outcome because the settlement can be lower and may miss other compensations only available in court. However, when a Lemon law claim reaches the arbitration process as an alternative, a Lemon law attorney can help go through the process without risking the final settlement. This process can take some weeks or months, but never as long as if your case reaches trial, which can extend the process up to one or more years.
File Your Lemon Law Claim with the Attorney General’s Office
If you try everything but nothing works, it’s time to take the next step and file a Lemon law claim at a specific institution in Washington state. You must submit your formal claim to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. In this step of the process, a lawyer can help you fill out the necessary forms and attach the relevant documentation to submit your complaint. After you submit the repair records and all other information related to your case, the Lemon Law Administration, the attorney general’s office, will start the investigation to help facilitate a resolution.
What Happens After You File a Lemon Law Claim?
How to Build a Strong Case for a Successful Lemon Law Claim
Build a strong case for a successful Lemon law claim; it doesn’t have to be a nightmare, but a goal to accomplish, since the foundation of your case relies on the correct documentation. In Easy Lemon, we recommend that you follow these steps to have a solid case and obtain the compensation you deserve:
Maintaining organized records: Every detail, date, and receipt will be useful when you try to prove a serious problem in a motor vehicle you own.
Understanding manufacturer warranty coverage: Each state has different warranty coverage, but Washington Lemon Law provides a reasonable number of attempts, the period your car is covered, and how to proceed with warranty repairs. It’s important to read and understand the manufacturer’s written warranty.
Document Every Communication with the Dealer or Manufacturer: Document every communication related to the defects of the lemon vehicle to ensure you have received notice or a copy of the communication.
Get Expert Opinions and Third-Party Inspections: If your dealership or the manufacturers have several problems with the vehicle, you can obtain a third-party inspection or find an expert who can help you identify the problem or give a professional opinion on the defect.
Do Not Settle for “Good Will” Fixes: Usually, the first settlements are the lowest, and good will fixes are usually repairs that the warranty won’t cover, so it’s essential to understand this method for manufacturers and dealerships to avoid giving you fair compensation.
Be Mindful of Lemon Law Time Limits: It’s crucial to respect and follow the time limits established for filing a claim. There may be some exceptions, including certain unresolved issues or specific manufacturing issues.
Consult with a Lemon Law lawyer early: Contacting a lawyer at the early stage of your legal journey can save you time and money and reduce the stress of the process. However, to know if you need a lawyer, there are certain situations, like difficult communication with manufacturers, negotiation, and trials, where a lawyer is the best choice.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lemon Law Claim in WA?
A Lemon law case is not a process you can do overnight and expect the best outcome by simply looking and waiting. It requires dedication and continuous effort to obtain compensation. Washington Lemon Law cases usually take about 6 months or more if you decide to negotiate with the manufacturer for fair compensation. Still, this time can be extended if your case follows the complete process and reaches court trials, usually taking 1 year or more, depending on your case. In general, these cases take months to years to finally settle.
Need Help Filing a Washington Lemon Law Claim?
Through Lemon Law customers can protect their purchase and receive the product they paid for. Although it’s hard to tell if a vehicle may be a lemon, with some knowledge, you can discern what type of cars this law covers. Stay informed and proactive if you think you may have a lemon car, as the best decision is to obtain compensation for a faulty vehicle.
At Easy Lemon, we understand how hard it can be to determine whether your car is a lemon, but our Washington Lemon law attorneys will help you through the process until you obtain fair compensation. We offer a free case evaluation where you can tell us the story around your vehicle. Contact us today, and let us assist you with the legal process and all the technical stuff related to your Lemon Law claim.
