Duric v. Taylor

Case Summary: Motorcyclist injured by car driver making unsafe turn

On Sunday March 25, 2018, our client Hozelito Duric was riding his electric motorcycle on Palos Verdes Drive West in the #2 lane.

Just as he passed through the intersection of Via Anita, a Lexus driven by Defendant Taylor which was also on Palos Verdes Drive West, but in the #1 lane, made a hard right from the #1 lane and into the #2 lane. This unsafe movement impeded Mr. Duric’s right of way causing a collision between Mr. Duric’s motorcycle and Defendant Taylor’s Lexus.

From the collision, Mr. Duric, among other things, suffered a broken hip and ankle. Although he had surgery to repair his hip and ankle, the complications from these injuries forever altered Mr. Duric’s life, including his ability to exercise, scuba drive, climb, hike, play soccer, and ride his motorcycle on long distance trips.

During trial, the Defendant’s lawyer attempted to blame Mr. Duric for causing his own injuries by suggesting that Mr. Duric should have been traveling at a slower speed, or responded quicker, or used his horn to alert Defendant Taylor of his presence.

The jury rejected these arguments and found Defendant Taylor to be the 100% cause of the collision. The jury then found Defendant Taylor to have caused Mr. Duric’s injuries and compensated Mr. Duric $1,435,000.00.

This verdict was later named one of the Top 100 California verdicts in 2022 by Top Verdict.