4 Legal Questions You Should Ask About Defective Vehicle Claims

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We all want our cars to work exactly as advertised and, most of the time, they do. 

But, sadly, there are times when the cars we buy don’t work as expected and there are even times when they fall apart and fail entirely. That’s when they are considered a lemon and, frankly, you have every right to be upset about buying one.

But you have options if you’re ever in that sort of situation. There are plenty of law firms who are ready and eager to step up and help you when you are submitting a defective vehicle claim. But you just need to know what questions to ask and what knowledge to obtain before you take the next steps with this sometimes lengthy and confusing process. 

What Is The Basis For My Claim?

Before you do anything else, you need to find the right Los Angeles lemon law firm that tackles your case and gets you the sort of compensation and respect that you deserve. You need a team that understands the pain and anguish you have gone through and will fight hard to help your life get back on track.

Once you have agreed to work with a particular law firm, the first thing you should ask is what the basis for your defective vehicle claim is. 

You should ask about the particular laws and rules and regulations that will affect your defective vehicle claim. Your lawyer will walk you through the situation, your specific circumstances, and how the law can help you. This will give you a lot more clarity and help you know what the steps ahead are going to look like. 

Who Is Liable?

The next question that you’ll need to ask when going through a defective vehicle claim process is to figure out who is at fault. Who caused this and who needs to be held responsible? This is something an all-star legal team or expert lawyer will be able to tell you. 

Believe it or not, there are a few options here. It might be the fault of the manufacturer, the dealership, or perhaps even a third party that wasn’t directly involved with the creation of the car, like a company that creates supplies.

Before you can file your claim, you’ll need to know who you are holding personally responsible.

Statute Of Limitations?

While it would be nice that all defective vehicle problems are covered no matter how long you have owned the car, the truth is that there is a statute of limitations when it comes to filing a claim. 

Depending on the state and region you live in, there are different rules and deadlines related to these claims. How much time you have will solely depend on where you are living and you will want to ask specific questions about this with your lawyer or legal team, as they will know the specific rules that relate to your case and your jurisdiction. 

Do I Need Evidence?

You’ll also want to ask your legal team what sort of evidence you might need when it comes to your defective vehicle claim. Obviously, your word is not enough in a court of law. Instead, you’ll want to prove to the powers that be that your car really was defective and it was truly out of your control. 

The type of evidence you’ll need varies from case to case and you’ll gain a lot of insight from your legal team, who will know what type of evidence you need to make your case a slam dunk.

Conclusion

It’s not your fault that your car isn’t working and you should feel confident about that. But you should also know that creating a defective vehicle claim and getting the sort of compensation you deserve isn’t always easy and it isn’t always fast. It requires that you choose the right legal team, ask the important questions, and create a plan that will get you where you need to be. 

There are many things to keep in mind but these questions will help you and your legal team get on the right path towards your claim being approved. This situation, as annoying as it is, doesn’t have to last forever if you put your legal case in the right hands. 

Source: Lemon Laws, Los Angeles, CA


Leading Energy Lawyer David Martin Connelly Returns to McGuireWoods in D.C.


Partner Enhances Firm’s Powerful Regulatory & Enforcement Capabilities

David Martin Connelly, a nationally recognized energy regulatory lawyer with more than 25 years of experience representing electric utilities and other industry clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and U.S. Courts of Appeals, has returned to McGuireWoods as a partner in Washington, D.C.

Connelly provides strategic counsel to electric utilities and their affiliates on a wide range of regulatory and policy matters. He focuses on electric transmission issues, including open-access transmission service, cost-of-service rates for transmission and ancillary services, and incentive transmission rates.

Connelly also assists clients with transmission and generation interconnection issues associated with renewable development and advises on North American Electric Reliability Corporation compliance matters, including self-reports, formal audits and cybersecurity concerns.

Connelly joins the firm from Balch & Bingham, LLP in Washington. He was a partner at McGuireWoods from 2012 to 2017 and before that was senior counsel at Dominion Energy.

“Dave played an important role in the growth and development of our energy industry team at McGuireWoods and his return strengthens our leadership position in this space,” said Richard Viola, deputy managing partner of the firm’s corporate practice. 

Connelly is the immediate past president of the Energy Bar Association and serves on the organization’s board of directors. He has been recognized as a leading energy regulatory lawyer by Chambers GlobalChambers USALawdragon 500The Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500 United States.

“Dave is a respected leader in the energy bar and is highly regarded by clients for his experience managing complex matters before FERC and federal appeals courts,” said Vishwa Link, co-leader of McGuireWoods’ energy regulatory and enforcement practice group.

McGuireWoods’ multidisciplinary energy industry team brings together legal, policy, energy technology and business experience to provide integrated services to clients across sectors. The firm’s regulatory and compliance lawyers represent energy clients in proceedings before FERC, the Environmental Protection Agency, state public utility commissions and various state agencies. McGuireWoods earned nationwide rankings for energy regulatory, litigation and transactional work in the 2024 editions of The Legal 500 United States and Chambers USA.

“I am excited to return home to McGuireWoods and one of the nation’s top energy practices,” Connelly said. “The firm’s industry knowledge and team-oriented approach to client service sets it apart and I look forward collaborating with colleagues to build on that success.”

Connelly is the fifth partner McGuireWoods has welcomed to its D.C. office in recent months. Megan Lewis moved to the firm after serving as a leader in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. David Hirsch, former chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit, joined the firm’s securities enforcement and regulatory counseling practice. Partners Kevin Madagan and Clint Narver, who have extensive private practice and government experience in matters affecting U.S. Food & Drug Administration regulated industries, also joined the D.C. office, expanding the firm’s healthcare and life sciences capabilities.

“Our energy regulatory and enforcement team is a pillar of our Washington office and Dave’s return enhances our capabilities in this key area,” said Elizabeth Hogan, managing partner of the firm’s D.C. office.


McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with 1,100 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide. It continuously ranks among the top firmsin Financial Times’ prestigious North America Innovative Lawyers report. The firm has been recognized 18 times on BTI Consulting’s Client Service A-Team — elite firms singled out for client service excellence based on unprompted feedback from clients in major companies. Its full-service public affairs arm, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, offers infrastructure and economic development, strategic communications and grassroots advocacy, and government relations solutions. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com.

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