Auto Fraud Attorney San Jose

Services We Provide to Combat Auto Fraud

Auto Fraud Cases

Our auto fraud attorney services cover the full spectrum of deceptive practices used by dishonest car dealers throughout San Jose and California.

We handle cases involving undisclosed accident damage, rolled-back odometers, hidden liens, and vehicles sold with known mechanical defects that weren’t revealed to buyers.

Lemon Law Representation

When manufacturers produce defective vehicles that can’t be repaired despite multiple attempts, our lemon law attorneys step in to protect your rights under California’s lemon laws.

We work with clients whose cars spend more time in the shop than on the road, ensuring they receive full compensation or replacement vehicles as required by law.

Contract Manipulation Claims

Dealerships often use complex financing arrangements and contract terms to take advantage of buyers who don’t fully understand what they’re signing.

Our legal team reviews purchase agreements, financing contracts, and warranty terms to identify illegal practices and force dealers to honor their obligations or face legal consequences.

Insurance Company Disputes

When insurance companies refuse to pay legitimate claims related to fraudulent vehicle sales, our attorneys step in to ensure you receive the coverage you paid for.

We handle disputes involving undisclosed damage, mechanical failures, and other issues that should be covered under your policy but are being denied by insurance providers.

Warranty Fraud Recovery

Car dealers and manufacturers sometimes make promises about warranty coverage that they later refuse to honor, leaving consumers to pay for expensive repairs out of their own pocket.

Our law firm pursues these businesses for breach of warranty, ensuring that clients receive the protection they were promised when they made their purchase.

Common Auto Fraud Tactics We See From Car Dealerships in San Jose

Frame Damage and Structural Problems

Car dealers in San Jose frequently sell vehicles with serious structural damage that compromises safety and vehicle value.

These cars may have been in major accidents, floods, or other incidents that caused frame damage, but dealers hide this information from buyers to make a quick sale.

When you discover the truth, your vehicle may be worth thousands less than what you paid, and the safety risks to you and your family can be severe.

The long-term consequences include difficulty selling or trading the vehicle, ongoing mechanical problems, and potential safety failures that could result in accidents or injuries.

Predatory Financing Schemes

Dishonest dealerships target consumers with poor credit or limited financial knowledge, trapping them in loans with excessive interest rates and hidden fees.

These predatory practices can double or triple the actual cost of the vehicle, creating a cycle of debt that can take years to escape.

Victims often discover that their monthly payments are much higher than discussed, their loan terms are longer than agreed upon, or they’re being charged for services and products they never requested.

The financial impact can destroy credit scores, strain family budgets, and prevent victims from making other important purchases like homes or starting businesses.

Odometer Tampering and Mileage Fraud

Rolling back odometers is a common form of fraud that makes high-mileage vehicles appear to have less wear and tear than they actually do.

This deception allows dealers to charge premium prices for cars that should be sold at much lower values based on their true mileage and condition.

When the fraud is discovered, owners face expensive repair bills for problems that would have been expected with the vehicle’s actual mileage, and the resale value plummets dramatically.

The legal implications include potential liability for unknowingly selling a tampered vehicle to someone else, creating ongoing legal and financial risks.

Undisclosed Lemon History

Some dealers acquire vehicles that were previously returned to manufacturers under lemon laws, then resell them to unsuspecting buyers without disclosing this history.

These cars often have recurring mechanical problems that were never properly fixed, leading to ongoing repair costs and safety concerns.

Buyers end up paying full price for vehicles that should be heavily discounted due to their defective history, and they may face the same problems that caused the original owner to return the car.

The cycle of repairs, warranty claims, and mechanical failures can continue indefinitely, making the vehicle essentially unusable while the owner remains responsible for loan payments.

Bait and Switch Tactics

Dealerships advertise attractive deals to bring customers onto the lot, then claim the advertised vehicle is no longer available and pressure buyers into more expensive alternatives.

This practice wastes consumers’ time and manipulates them into making purchases they wouldn’t have considered if they had accurate information from the start.

The psychological pressure and time investment make it difficult for victims to walk away, even when they realize they’re being manipulated.

These tactics particularly target vulnerable populations, including elderly buyers, first-time car purchasers, and people with limited English proficiency who may not fully understand what’s happening.

Warranty Misrepresentation

Dealers often make false promises about warranty coverage, extended warranties, or manufacturer guarantees to close sales.

When problems arise, buyers discover that the promised coverage doesn’t exist or has so many limitations that it’s essentially worthless.

This leaves consumers responsible for expensive repairs they thought would be covered, often on vehicles that are too new to have these kinds of problems.

The financial burden of unexpected repair costs can be devastating, especially for families who stretched their budgets to afford the vehicle purchase in the first place.

When dealers engage in these practices, they violate consumer protection laws and create grounds for legal action to recover damages and hold them accountable for their deceptive behavior.