Car issues can frustrate and confuse you. When your car starts malfunctioning, you would like to understand what went wrong. Did the dealer mislead you during the purchase? Or did you just purchase a vehicle with manufacturing flaws like car frame damage? These are fundamentally different legal situations.
Lemon law protects vehicles with extereme defects that can’t be repaired. Dealer fraud, on the contrary, transpires when sellers intentionally cheat buyers. It is essential to understand the distinction in your case. It decides on the laws governing your case. In addition, it will guide you in selecting an appropriate legal approach.
[1] What is dealer fraud?
Dealer fraud occurs when sellers misrepresent a vehicle. They may conceal damage from an accident from you. Also, they may illegally roll back the odometer reading. Some dealerships sell cars with known safety defects. Also, they do not disclose prior flood damage to you, resulting in you buying a car with frame damage or something else.
Fraud consists of willful deception by the dealer. They realize that they are lying in order to sell. These activities violate consumer protection laws. Additionally, fraudulent cases usually entail criminal activity. A lemon law attorney is equipped to detect fraud patterns. They understand what to review in dealer documents. Additionally, they know how dealers attempt to conceal issues.
[2] Lemon law cases
Lemon cases are different from fraud. Your car may be a lemon without any dealer scam. Lemon is just a car with inherent defects, like a car frame damage. These problems happen after you buy the automobile in good faith.
The car manufacturer had made a defective product. Still, they had tried to fix it several times. In spite of that, the problems continue to recur. This is a real case of the lemon law. Lemon law lawyers handle such defect cases of manufacturing. They ensure that you receive a refund or replacement. In addition, they directly negotiate with automobile makers.
[3] Key differences you should know
The main difference lies in timing and intent. Fraud happens before or during the sale. The dealer knows about problems but hides them. Meanwhile, lemon issues appear after purchase.
A lemon law attorney says cases of fraud address the dealer’s fraudulent actions. On the other hand, lemon cases address manufacturing defects. Various laws govern each case. As such, you require alternative legal strategies. Requirements of evidence also vary for cases. Fraud cases require proof of purposeful deception. Nevertheless, lemon cases necessitate evidence of repair attempts.
[4] Legal remedies available
Both scenarios provide legal recourse for purchasers. The cases of fraud can involve punitive damages. These penalize merchants for fraudulent activity. You may also receive attorney fees back.
Lemon law lawyers suggest these cases offer certain remedies. You can receive a refund in full, or the manufacturer will replace your vehicle. Some examples include additional recovery, as well.
Final thoughts
Awareness of these distinctions safeguards your rights as a buyer. Dealer fraud is deception with the intent to lie at the time of the sales. Lemon law cases address factory defects later on. Both situations are worthy of legal action. They just need different steps, though. Lemon law offers strong protection against buying a car with frame damage or defective issues. Having proper legal assistance ensures the right result. Thus, reach out to experienced lawyers when automotive issues arise. They will lead you to the correct solution.
Andrew Richardson is the author of this Article. To know more about odometer disclosure in Texas please visit our website: allenstewart.com
