TheAthletesLawyer

"Mr. Incredible" (a.k.a. "Super Lawyer" Doug Landau) and exceptionally fit international W&OD Trail skate tourists in Herndon

International skate tourists rolling over the W&OD Trail from Maryland and D.C. and a “Super Hero” “Super Lawyer” were both spotted in downtown Herndon at Great Harvest. A couple from Denmark have been incredibly skating the famous trail, covering more miles than most cyclists ! And Herndon injury and disability lawyer Doug Landau, who was once again named to the region’s list of “Super Lawyers,” celebrated Halloween as “Mr. Incredible.” Mrs. Landau made his costume (as well as her “Mrs. Incredible” outfit for their daughter’s high school’s annual costume parade !). The staff at ABRAMS LANDAU would not let “the big guy” get out of “uniform,” so he spent the day visiting with clients, much to the delight of their children.

In addition to this being a “causal dress day,” the staff was treated to chair massages by client Dee Schools, who has her own wonderful practice and comes to offices and private homes in order to make people (and “Super heroes”) feel better and return to work reinvigorated and relaxed. We know that everyone at ABRAMS LANDAU enjoyed her skills and spirit.

Bicycle safety and injury advocate Doug Landau making sure a cyclist is properly sitting on his stationary bike at the Herndon Bike to Work festival

Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (”FABB”) met with City of Fairfax Police Chief and Sargent Pam Nevlud to provide comments on the city’s new bicycle safety website. FABB asked that the website put less stress on the dangers of cycling and more on the many positive aspects of cycling. Bicycling is no more dangerous than many other common activities. In fact, the health benefits of cycling outweigh the dangers. FABB discussed the importance of bicycle education at all levels and plans to co-sponsor a bike rodeo with the police in the spring.

FABB members manned a booth near my own during the annual “Bike 2 work” festival in Herndon.  The FABB explained its positions on various issues and is genuinely concerned about  bike commuting, touring and biker safety.  The Bike to Work day also featured free information about cycling safety, biker injury and prevention of bicycle and car crashes.  For other news and articles of interest, visit the FABB blog.

pierre & doug

Opening November 9th HPC Computrainer classes in “downtown” Herndon.

HPC’s Pierre Pelletier and Susan Hefler will be offering the VO2 testing, Bike fitting, Bodywork, and the Computrainer classes. Once HPC (”Hefler Performance Training“) gets up and rolling, they will also offer Time Trial Competition, strength and conditioning classes, and yoga.  They are making the pink bank building next to Great Harvest Bakery  are making the space multi functional.  The address is 783 Station Street, Herndon, and registration is now open at: www.bikereg.com.

For those that know the W & OD bike path, it is right off the bike path after you cross Elden Street. That next crossing is Station Street (heading west) and you would make a right off of the bike path @ Station Street, about one hundred yards from the Landau Law Shop.  The photo was taken today as Herndon bike injury lawyer Doug Landau finally met Pierre as he was walking back from the last Herndon Farmers Market of the year.

Pierre will be doing bodywork and bike fitting, and they will have the spin scan up and running for pedal stroke analysis.  There will also be VO2 testing and the coaching work.  Babes on Bikes classes/ Ladies only have been set up for Monday and Friday @ 11AM. HPC is opening early bird classes for the people who prefer working out as a start to their day.   In the new space they will have between 12-14 Computrainers and as such will many times break classes into 2.

Hefler Performance Coaching (”HPC”) has 2 completely separate systems going. So this should make things much better to accomodate all ability levels. Remember the indoor training is all about training oneself. Ms. Hefler points out, “I know it gets competitive in the classes, but you all really wanna focus on your own goals. I will try and make this happen for as many people as possible, and have different level classes available at most all sessions. Of course if you all want to hammer, we can all go advanced.

Please send me thoughts. We really built this for the athletes’ and as such, ideas are always welcome. We want to make this a sensational training center for ALL.

I look forward to CRANKIN the Tunes!!!!”

Cheers, Susan Hefler
571.212.2895
shcoaching@comcast.net

Jurors heard arguments this week in a case that questions the safety of aluminum baseball bats, the Helena Independent newspaper reports. The lawsuit stems from the 2003 death of a Miles City Mavericks baseball player who was struck in the head by a ball hit with an aluminum bat manufactured by Louisville Slugger. The advantage of the aluminum bats is that they do not warp, splinter or break like wooden bats, though some contend they are more dangerous if thrown and when they strike a baseball. Prince William baseball injury lawyer Doug Landau notes that while the aluminum bats may avoid the cold weather “stinging hands” that he encountered in little league, the aluminum bats seem to send the balls at tremendous speeds back at the pitcher or toward other infielders who may not have the necessary reaction time to avoid danger and permanent injury. These baseballs hit at the athletes’ heads could prove fatal, as was the case here.

Attorneys for the plaintiff argue that aluminum bats allow hitters to strike the ball with such force it creates significant danger for other players. Plaintiff’s counsel told the jury, “The eyewitnesses watching the game will tell you they couldn’t see the ball until it ricocheted off his head,” attorneys argue the case is not a freak accident. Baseballs hit with aluminum bats, such as the one used in that American Legion game, only give pitchers milliseconds to respond in a defensive stance. The average is about 400 milliseconds, according to plaintiff’s counsel. They contended the pitcher who received the fatal injuries only had about 376 milliseconds response time.

Even during optimal long distance running conditions, fatalities occur. The deaths of 3 runners during the Detroit Marathon races underscore the importance of seeing your doctor and having regular check ups when undertaking physically challenging exercise events such as the marathon or half marathon. Despite plenty of fluids and careful pacing, Doug Landau collapsed at the finish line of his first half marathon while competing for the United States Maccabiah team in 2005. Recovering from leg cramps over the next several hours, the Herndon Reston area sports injury lawyer noted that he had fully prepared for the heat, but the distance was challenging. Landau has since run another half, in Cambridge Maryland, where he won another age group award, but was freezing from the cold !

Runners who collapse or suffer heart attacks are rare, but checking with your doctor before racing is a good idea.

In the Michigan running race, all three men collapsed without explanation, though the cold weather was not thought to be a factor. According to the Detroit Free Press, it was some 41 degrees at the time, which is considered good for such long distance racing.  The Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon yesterday had more than 19,000 people registered to participate in its 32nd running. There were at least six medical stations on the race course and emergency personnel were on the scene within seconds.

Deaths at marathons are relatively rare. The last death at the Detroit event was in 1994 when a 42-year-old man died of a heart attack after running more than 20 miles. Every runner must sign a medical release form, and they are encouraged to talk to their doctors before they run the race. “On a day when so many people bring such energy and challenge themselves to do their utmost, this news is very difficult to hear,” said Free Press editor and publisher Paul Anger said. “Our deepest sympathies are with the families.”

When a soldier sustained a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to communicate or feed himself, he probably did not foresee the sport of kayaking as playing a role in his rehabilitation. Having watched kayak racers, brain injury lawyer Doug Landau understood the physical and mental challenges posed by this rigorous and dangerous sport. The Herndon head trauma attorney noted that it takes extreme coordination, strength, courage and stamina to participate.

Today’s Washington Examiner newspaper had an interesting article in the “Personal Best” section about this army vet who was injured in Afghanistan in 2004 who now kayaks. Don Lange was sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for rehabilitation since he needed help completing simple activities of daily living (”ADLs”). The article notes: Brain injuries can result in a problems like memory loss, inattention, depression, distorted judgment and slow thinking. Lange suffered from them all. After a year at Walter Reed, doctors told Lange’s wife that he would never live independently again and she should consider hiring an in-home caregiver. By the end of 2005, Lange had been moved to a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. He had come a long way in his recovery, but he still couldn’t live independently. Lange then hit a plateau, and his doctors no longer saw improvement in his condition.

“It made it difficult to stay motivated,” he said. “That, coupled with the frustration of everything that had been so easy in the past becoming very difficult because it couldn’t be done the old way or had just been forgotten.” That was when a volunteer from Team River Runner, a nonprofit organization that uses kayaking as an outlet for injured veterans, came to the VA looking for vets to sign up. “Nothing I saw changed my mind that it was a crazy thing to do, but it looked like a hell of a lot of fun,” Lange said.

After that, he was on board. Lange began going to lessons in the VA’s Olympic-size swimming pool. But because learning new things was nearly impossible for him, he had difficulties picking up the sport at first. Lange believes he was successful in learning to kayak because it’s a sensory activity that involves all of the brain’s modules for learning. He also said the sport allowed him to combat Read the rest of this entry »

Keep a safe distance behind a golfer, as golf balls can be deadly

After participating in a fun “End of Summer” party at which there was a “Closest to the Pin” golf ball hitting contest Herndon Reston area sports injury attorney Doug Landau came across an article about a woman who died after being struck on the head by a golf ball while playing a practice match. While the sports accident lawyer had himself been hit with a golf ball and read cases of lawsuit from balls striking players, Landau had not heard of a golfer dying from a head injury on the course. The Times reported that after receiving emergency treatment at the scene, she was airlifted to the Hospital where she died the next day.

Closer to home, The Virginian-Pilot reported that a woman who was felled by a ball while watching her boyfriend play golf in the summer of 2006 sued the Golf Course for $1 million. The New Jersey plaintiff was hit in the left temple and eye by a stray golf ball and seriously injured, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court. Negligent design of the golf course was the cause of her eye and head injury, according to the lawsuit papers.

Herndon Reston area sports injury and accident lawyer Doug Landau recommends not hitting golf balls when there are people in front or on the sides of the tee. The ABRAM LANDAU law firm has successfuly represented injured golfers who are the victims of others’ negligence. In one case, Landau helped a teaching golf professional after he broke his arm when his golf cart crashed ! If you, or someone you know, has been hurt in a golf accident, please consider giving the ABRAMS LANDAU law firm a call at 703-796-9555.

Brain aneurysm lawyer Doug Landau after the Susco 8k in Reston Virginia

The 2nd Annual Brain Aneurysm Race for Awareness in Memory of Tim Susco was a success despite the cold, rain and overcast skies. Over 600 runners and walkers participated this year’s race despite the cold, rainy day. Proceeds will be divided among the Brain Aneurysm Foundation and the Washington Regional Transplant Community. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation was established as a public charity. The Foundation developed from a close relationship between patients and healthcare professionals who identified the need for comprehensive information and support for brain aneurysm patients, their families, and the medical community.

Setting 3 goals for himself in light of the cold, rain and rolling course, TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau simply wanted to: finish in the top 20; break 35 minutes; and, keep his heart rate within his anaerobic threshold. Lawyer Landau noted, “Setting goals for every race and every case is important. If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.’ Landau achieved all 3 pre-race goals, finishing 17th (and winning an age group award !) with a time of 34:40 and an average heart rat of 172 (resting pulse is usually 42). Landau and the ABRAMS LANDAU team have won cases for clients who have suffered brain damage from aneurysm. Clients lives have been saved by the Center for Cranial and Spinal Surgery and the adroit hands of Dr. Donald Hope. In one case, Dr. Hope testified that it is not unusual to see an aneurysm rupture and cause damage to the brain after Read the rest of this entry »

Herndon injury attorney Doug Landau poses with part of local orthopedic surgeon Tom Fleeter's medical equipment box. Dr. Fleeter is a volunteer at such events as the Reston Triathlon.

Injuries in competition are a given. However, sporting events with medical personnel on site reduce the chances of increased harm due to delays in treatment. Especially where there are extremes of temperature, humidity or hills, medical personnel on site can help ameliorate the accidents and injuries that may occur. Where competitors are pushing the “Pedal to the metal,” it only takes a split second for there to be a traumatic head injury or broken bone. With an experienced sports medicine doctor standing by, the effects of such accident and sports injuries can be reduced.

Athletes may be in excellent physical shape, however once the andrenaline is running, competitors may push their bodies into the “red zone” or accidentally stray into another’s path or that of an oncoming car or truck. Sports medicine and injury trial lawyer Doug Landau has been in bike crashes and received immediate medical care at the finish line and transition area. While we may not like hearing the sirens or seeing the lights during a race, we, as athletes, are reassured when we see medical personnel stationed to be at the ready at the start of a race, just in case.

Top masters finishers after the 2009 Lake Anna Virginia Triathlon Series sprint race

When a cabbie cut into cyclist Rob Urbach’s path and was sent through the windshield, who would have thought that 3 years later he would be at the top of his game, winning awards at the Dextro ITU Olympic Triathlon and this weekend winning a Masters prize at the Lake Anna Acorn Sprint Triathlon held in Bumpass Virginia. Despite some windshield glass that still has not worked its way out of “Rocket Rob’s” arm, the talented mulisport athlete has had a consistent season, leaving his legal counsel in the dust at every venue.

There are “Ironmen” and then there are Ironmen. Rob Urbach is truly a man made of iron. Shown to the left are the Masters triathletes after the Virginia Triathlon race at Lake Anna, the same venue as the “Rumpass in Bumpass.” This event benefits Organization for Autism Research and Lake Anna Rescue Squad. They serve the Lake Anna region and many of them were on site race day. This weekend benefits both the Lake Anna Rescue Squad and the Organization for Autism Research. The Organization for Autism Research and it’s “Tri For Autism” program allows athletes to race and raise funds for Autism research. It’s better when you tri for a cause…