The Athlete's Lawyer

When athletes "taper" for a big race, it means they reduce training volume & intensity so as to be rested, uninjured and ready for triathlon success.

Reston Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau is often asked, “How are you able to train consistently and push yourself so hard so as to compete in State, Regional and National competitions ?”

The harder task for the sports injury and disability lawyer is “tapering” before a major biking, running and/or swimming race.  “Tapering” means reducing the volume and intensity of training in order to be well rested, fueled and uninjured in order to achieve peak performance.  Often, instead of a workout during this period, Landau will try to nap, stretch, relax, hydrate and get extra sleep at night.  In truth, the staff at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. will tell you that the boss finds it very hard to do very little in the days leading up to a big race.  But the goal is not to be “overtrained” or fatigued come race day.  Landau hopes to be at the starting line so well rested and ready to go, that he is literally, “jumping out of his speedo !”

GMU Victims Rights award winners (R->L) Tom Cook & Peter Blank flank crime victims' lawyer Doug Landau

Each April since 1981, the Office of Victims’ Rights has helped lead communities throughout the country in their observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.  Rallies, candlelight vigils, and a host of commemorative activities are held each year to promote victims’ rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.  Having represented victims of crimes in their personal injury cases, workers comp claims and quest for answers and restitution, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun County crime victims’ lawyer Doug Landau has supported the George Mason University annual Victims’ Rights Run & Walk for many years.

The 14th Annual Victims’ Rights Run & Walk was held in collaboration with the Aimee Willard Endowment Scholarship Fund today at the Center for the Performing Arts on the Fairfax Campus of the University.  The proceeds of this event go to support the George Mason University Victims of Violence Fund and the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Program.  Mason’s Victims of Violence Fund, administered by Sexual Assault Services, provides direct assistance to student survivors of sexual assault, stalking, and dating/partner violence.  The Victims’ Rights 5K Run & Walk is a George Mason University tradition !  Participants enjoyed a fitness run and walk along with a celebration of local vendors and sponsors.  Doug Landau and several hundred others came out on a sunny afternoon to support an important cause !   If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of a crime, either at work, shopping, while biking, running, walking, blading or while exercising or because of a failure of security or safety products, please e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) today, as there are important legal deadlines.

Triathlon Trial lawyer Doug Landau shows off some of the "SWAG" from the USAT National Duathlon Championships, which included such sports safety equipment as a reflective running hat and bicycle / jogging light

Finally, the USAT gives out some useful, safety conscious SWAG to competitors in the United States National Age Group Duathlon Championship.  SWAG (“Stuff We All Get”) has reached “critical mass” in the Landau household.  Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince Wiliam County Virginia sports injury lawyer Doug Landau is not allowed to bring home another t-shirt unless he throws three others away !  There is simply no more room in his drawers, closet or basement !
As he races and volunteers to support charities all over the country, he has accumulated over 1,000 shirts alone ! How many t-shirts, water bottles and nylon drawstring bags can one person have ?  Landau has donated shirts, water bottles, pins, bags, prizes, and other items to local public and private schools, shelters, the Herndon Free Clinic, clergy in Florida, Connecticut and Virginia, Comite de Hispano in Arlington, the Chantilly Youth Association and other non-profit groups over the decades he has been racing and helping injured and disabled adults and children.

In a brilliant move, the United States Triathlon Association gave bike racers, runners and duathletes from all over the country lights to wear while running or biking, as well as specially made hats with safety reflective fabric for increased visibility as well as to protect from sunburn.  Landau applauds the USAT’s efforts in promoting safety for the athletes and hopes that other races will follow suit.  Mrs. Landau hopes other race directors will also follow the national governing body’s lead so that her husband does not bring home any more t-shirts !

The emergency first responders at the National Duathlon Festival were equipped with all terrain medically equipped bikes to help bicycle crash victims and other injured athletes

Usually it is just the bike racers on two wheels in local duathlons, time trials, century rides, triathlons, criterium events and pelotons.  However, at some bike and multipart race venues, there are very mobile medical rescue workers who ride specially equipped bicycles, just like some local police and law enforcement departments use.  The bikes shown belong to the team of emergency medical personnel who covered the downtown Richmond, Virginia USAT Duathlon National Championship races.

Members of the Richmond Virginia bike crash and injured athlete medical emergency team

Because some of the race courses are “off road” and on closed street, biker medics can get to a cyclist after a crash or injured runner quickly in order to render immediate first aid.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau saw several bikers skidding on the wet pavement at high speed and saw several crashes and injuries.  When he competed at Nationals in Richmond two years ago, the Herndon Reston and Sterling injury lawyer saw a friend wipe out on a hairpin turn, crashing her bike, and being taken out of the race in a police cruiser.  This year the experienced sports injury and disability advocate saw fewer serious crashes, but still counted many bikers walking their bikes back to the start due to flats, crashes, and other equipment failures and defects.  Doug Landau thanks and applauds these two-wheeled emergency medical responders, and hopes that they will be present at all major USAT multisport competitions.

Disabled ABRAMS LANDAU clients and friends find the handicap accessible Herndon Virginia "Law Shop" friendly, not fancy.

Now that the warmer weather is finally here in Northern Virginia, you may see members of the ABRAMS LANDAU injury and disability trial team meeting with clients, their families and witnesses outside !  Clients can even discuss their cases on the front porch, with its rocking chairs, porch swing and “wireless computer” capability in the good weather.  For clients with issues such as claustrophobia, Turrette’s, smokers and those who just want to be outside, our Law Shop is the perfect choice.  There are a number of meeting options at our downtown Herndon building.  The first floor choices are: inside informal; inside formal and outside ! Not many injury, occupational disease and fatal accident injury law firms can match the Herndon disability law firm’s capabilities.

The parlor has toys and games for young children as well as its own restroom. The conference room has video and computer capability, as well as dry erase boards, pasteboard, life activity calendars, a law library, anatomical models and other aids for “show and tell” as well as its own bathroom with railing.  Because the Landau Law Shop helps clients and families after devastating accidents, the staff is especially sensitive to the needs of the permanently injured people who seek their help every day.  If you want an experienced law firm that actually tries cases, welcomes disabled clients into an accessible home, e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) today, as there are important legal deadlines in personal injury, workers compensation and Social Security Disability claims.

The start of the National duathlon festival kids races enabled children to have fun and compete on the downtown Richmond Virginia championship course

While the National Duathlon Festival will feature top competitors from all over the country vying for a spot on the US World Championship Team, there were many other races offered during the weekend of racing in Richmond.  Rather than watching highly paid professional athletes perform, Herndon & Reston area lawyer Doug Landau would rather watch kids compete for the love of the sport.  At the weekend multisport festival, Landau watched the children’s duathlon race.  Kids of all shapes and sizes raced on foot and on their bikes around a short course that covered some parts of the adult championship course.  Some of the youngsters were serious competitors and others were new to the “Run-Bike-Run” format.  But as they toed the line at the start, they were all ready to have some fun and experience some of what it’s like to race on a championship course in front of cheering family, friends and fans.

There are TWO important parts to every Virginia case where a PLACE causes a runner’s, biker’s or walkers injuries.

1. First, the injured party must show that there is a defective or dangerous condition on the property that caused the harm, AND
2. Second, the property owner or operator must have had notice of the danger or defect.

Pictures can show a defect, but proving "notice" (how long the dangerous condition or defect existed) is more difficult

A photograph like the one shown, shows a broken and dangerous condition, but the picture does not give a lot of information about how long it has been in this condition.  Prior similar incidents, complaints BEFORE the date of the biker, runner or walker’s injury and physical evidence of how much time has elapsed are all helpful.  If a pothole has worn down and is no longer jagged, expert may be able to testify as to how long the condition has lasted.  If the danger or defect has been around a long time, then a Virginia Court will allow the personal injury case go to the jury on the issue of damages.  That’s why the ABRAMS LANDAU injury trial team advises clients that pictures are great, but evidence of notice must still be developed in order to succeed in court.  If you or someone you know has been injured while biking, running, walking, blading or while exercising due to some danger a company’s property, please e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) today, as there are important legal deadlines in these premises liability claims.

Handing out flyers and information about the Brain Injury Association's "Miracle Mile" events at the GMU Fairfax campus

The 7th Annual Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile, 10K Run/Walk will take place at George Mason University’s main Fairfax Campus.  In 2009, over 600 people came out to participate, support the Brain Injury Association and celebrate Kit Callahan’s miracle.  The event is more than just races, it is an opportunity to support and celebrate the success stories of survivors of brain injuries and to help raise money for Brain Injury Services.  As part of the planning committee, Doug Landau and the other volunteers are trying to make this event one of the premier races in Northern Virginia.  The “Miracle Mile” race committee always wants to expand the Brain Injury Awareness Fair to educate people of all ages.  In addition, the Fun Run was added for our younger participants!  Doug Landau helped with the start of the kid’s mile race (see photo gallery) and ran along with the children.

Last year, not only did we meet our goals, we exceeded our expectations.  The Volunteers for this year’s “Miracle Mile” look forward to the 7th Annual Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile on September 26, 2010.  Doug Landau took time away from the ABRAMS LANDAU “Law Shop” in order to be on the GMU campus handing out flyers for the Fall 10km and mile events, answering questions about traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), closed head trauma and disability and promoting this Brain Injury Association athletic competition.  We hope that you and your friends, family members and co-workers will join us for a fun jaunt around GMU.

BRAIN INJURY FACTS!

• Every 23 seconds, one person in the United States sustains a Traumatic Brain Injury.
• An estimated 3.17 million Americans currently live with disabilities resulting from Traumatic Brain Injury.
• More than 50,000 people die every year as a result of Traumatic Brain Injury.
• Brain Injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children.

For those affected by a brain injury, life changes in a second.  The moment a car accident occurs, the second a fall takes place, the instant a stroke happens–life as they knew it is forever changed.

The fatal DC bike accident we commented on yesterday has revealed additional details.  The bicyclist struck and killed by a military truck Monday evening was a 68-year-old wife and reporter with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (“AAAS”).  The cyclist was in a collision with the military vehicle that was positioned near the White House in connection with the Nuclear Security Summit.  The 5.5-ton National Guard truck and bike rider collided at about 6 p.m. at the intersection of New York Avenue and 12th Street NW in the District of Columbia.  According to the report in the Washington Post, Maj. Gen. Errol Schwartz, commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, said the truck was “pulling forward” to help block the intersection for passage of a motorcade when the incident occurred.

A police statement issued Tuesday said the truck was not part of the motorcade when the accident occurred. D.C. police are investigating the accident.  It does not appear that the cyclist was part of a training group or peloton speeding through downtown DC.  Once again, cyclist lawyer Doug Landau and everyone at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. hopes that a thorough investigation is completed promptly and that the cyclist’s family and friends are able to celebrate her life and accomplishments.

DC authorities report that a biker was killed in an intersection crash with a 5-ton military truck

On the way home from work this evening I was saddened by the news of a biker killed just blocks from the White House.  Washington, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical personnel revealed that a female bicyclist was dead after being hit by a moving motor vehicle in downtown D.C. this afternoon.

WTOP News reported that the accident occurred around 6 PM at the intersection of 12th Street and New York Avenue in NorthWest Washington, D.C.  This is an intersection within the restricted area for the Nuclear Security Summit.  A D.C. National Guard spokesman says the vehicle that struck the woman was a five-ton military truck.  The truck was pulling into the intersection to block it off for a motorcade and failed to see the woman aboard her bike.

Military vehicles have different site lines in comparison to civilian cars and trucks.  Army vehicles designed for desert warfare or rough terrain may  have “blind spots” that are different than those experienced in passenger cars and pick up trucks.  Perhaps when National Guard vehicles are recruited to provide security in civilian settings with high pedestrian and bicycling volumes, it would be safer to realign and/or add mirrors and site lines in accordance with US city street and foreseeable road users.

Having represented children and adults struck by cars, trucks, dogs and taxicabs in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, our thoughts and prayers at ABRAMS LANDAU are with the cyclist’s friends and family.