The Athlete's Lawyer

Brain Injury Services (“BIS“) running races Sunday increased participation and money raised this year.  Herndon Virginia Lawyer Doug Landau received word (and thanks) from the Director  for helping to make the Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile a success for BIS.  There were close to 500 participants at the event this year.   Runners, sponsors like ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. raised approximately $33,000.  Doug Landau served on the race committee and handed out hundreds of race flyers for the events at the Fairfax Virginia campus of George Mason University.  Members of the Landau Law Shop hope to be back next year to make these athletic and educational events even better !

The Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg Virginia bike crashes remind us to "preview" triathlon and bicycle race courses for strategy AND safety

The cycling crashes during the summer’s triathlon in Spotsylvania remind us of the importance of participants’ “previewing” the course before a race. Putting on a running, cycling or triathlon race requires planning, manpower and money. Yet even the most thorough race committee cannot foresee every potential pitfall or weather pattern. In the Fredericksburg area race, rain had caused some sand to wash out onto the bike course. Several cyclists were caused to crash due to the combination of speed, sand and bike control. The injuries these bikers sustained by wiping out on the pavement were devastating.

One of the cyclists contacted us at ABRAMS LANDAU because the crash caused severe brain injury. However, racers are expected to be familiar with the course, and going out, for the first time, full tilt during a race, is problematic. In sports, participants Read the rest of this entry »

Bike and car crashes at the Mount Vernon, W&OD, Four Mile Run and other local Trails suggest that area drivers are not looking out for Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia cyclists, runners, skaters and walkers

The recent  in Alexandria underscores the importance of drivers looking BOTH ways when crossing DC area cycling, skating and running paths.  Too often motorists are looking to see vehicular traffic approaching in whatever direction is closest to their car or truck.  Northern Virginia drivers tend to pull out to the street without regard for cyclists or joggers.  The “Share the Road” goal is observed more in the breach Read the rest of this entry »

Landau with a new friend and fellow triathlete (and her cracked aero helmet)

Even the best prepared athletes find that their safety and injury prevention equipment is not “race ready.”  It is a terrible feeling to train for months, travel hundreds of miles and to arrive at the race venue only to find that a vital piece of safety gear is broken or missing.  Doug Landau has had goggles break, wetsuits rip and bicycles flat at major sports competitions, so he knows what it feels like to be physical ready, but unable to compete.

Last Friday, after the Herndon Reston sports injury lawyer picked up his bike and triathlon racing gear from Velocity Pro bicycle shop, he saw that another competitor had a cracked bicycle helmet.  Her damaged “aero” bike helmet would never pass the USAT officials’ inspection and she would not be permitted to race with such unsafe equipment, as her head gear would not protect her skull from impact and potentially severe brain injury.

As he has done before, Landau offered her a helmet, since he often travels with spare safety equipment.  The West Coast Athlete graciously accepted lawyer Landau’s offer, as was back in the race.  The next day her sister returned the Virginia bike safety lawyer’s helmet, and they cheered the other bicycle racers participating in the US National Triathlon Championships.  If you have room in your bike travel case, car, luggage, etc., consider bringing extra safety equipment.  You too may be alb to help out a fellow athlete and prevent unnecessary injury or disability.

Bicycle safety advocate Doug Landau managed to avoid crashing and injury on the wet, slippery hairpin turns at the US National Championships

The hotter the conditions, the better Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau races.  However, after hot races Saturday, Sunday morning was cold, wet and raining.  The USAT Sprint Triathlon Championship race started with a half mile swim in the river by the University of Alabama campus.  Then, triathletes had to run up the steps to Manderson Landing and jump on their bikes in order to start cycling down Warner Highway.  After a short straightaway, there was the first hairpin turn, and then the long ride, hilly ride out in the rain.  The  Landau was ringing his bell as he passed the faster swimmers, and though constantly on the brakes, he kept his heart rate high.  At the second hairpin, the bicyclist in front of him crashed to the pavement, but avoided serious injury.  The bike racers crossed the river, had another tight turn, and then headed home.  Bicycle advocate attorney Landau managed a 22.7 mph average for the 12.4 mile course, and after a 47 second transition, ran in soaked shoes to try to catch others in his age group.

Doug Landau off the bike and headed into the second transition at the USAT Sprint Triathlon Championships

Because the temperature was only in the 60′s, Landau could not muster much better than a 7 minute-per-mile pace for the 5 km run, however, he threw in a strong kick to break 72 minutes.  Copping 10th in the age group meant that Landau automatically qualified to represent the USA at the World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Beijing, China.  However, the ABRAMS LANDAU lawyer gave up his spot so that another racer could go and experience this international competition.  Due to his performance, Landau will again be a Sprint Triathlon All American and will likely compete at next year’s National Championships.  Upcoming races include the VTS Giant Acorn at Lake Anna in Spotsylvania Virginia next Sunday.  As always, Doug Landau welcomes clients, their families and friends who want to watch him “in action,” either at the races or trying cases. Call (703-796-9555) or e-mail the Landau Law Shop for details and his upcoming schedule of cases and races.

At the Olympic Distance National Championships, there were a number of crashes and “near misses” at the Bike Dismount zone (see biker in photo).  The course had been set up with bicyclists making a sharp right, downhill, and then being told to get off their bikes immediately before the red dismount line or be disqualified.  Because the cyclists could not see the red dismount line, many had to brake hard, going downhill out of their shoes, or even side-saddle !

Doug Landau saw several bikers fall to the ground, others lose equipment and a number of “near misses.”  When a racing cyclist drops a shoe, water bottle or other piece of equipment, they face penalties for “abandonment.”  So, running back to retrieve equipment not only cost National Championship triathletes precious time, but created additional safety concerns as they were going “against the flow of traffic” or standing still in the narrow bike dismount area.  Luckily, for the Sprint race the next day, where the bikers speeds could create even more danger and increase the likelihood of crashes and injuries, the race officials moved the red line up to the straight-away.  This action not only improved safety and bike race injury prevention, but probably improved times as well by removing dangerous congestion at the beginning of the second Transition area.

What did Doug Landau do upon arrival in Tuscaloosa Alabama for the 2010 USA Triathlon Championships ?  He checked out his bike, checked out the course and checked into his hotel.

Gina of VeloCity Pro Cycle re-assembled & did a safety check of Doug Landau's bike before the big race

VeloCity Bicycle Shop was where the Triathlon Trial Lawyer had his bike shipped from Herndon Virginia.  With air travel becoming more difficult for bikers, ground transport is an economical and safe alternative.  Landau’s Kestral race bike was smashed in transit returning from the National Championships several years ago, despite the crash injury lawyer’s having placed it in a hard case bike box that had been flown to international competitions !  The friendly VeloCity crew did an excellent job of unpacking, re-assembling and tuning up Landau’s Cervelo racing bike.  Their pre-race safety check and the care with which they looked over the many athletes’ bicycles made for a safer race and reduced bike crash injuries out on the course.

Arriving at the Landau Law Shop on a Saturday, injury trial attorney Doug Landau expects downtown Herndon to be fairly quiet.  However, the Triathlon Trial Lawyer was surprised to see yellow Corvettes and other classic cars arrayed all along the streets around the Municipal Center and Herndon Courthouse.  The reason ?  The Herndon Classic Car Show on September 19th, 2010.

Showcars stretched as far as the eye could see at the intersection of Lynn and Station Streets in downtown Herndon.  The weather was beautiful and the crowds came out to see (and talk) automotive history, mechanics and artistry.  The AARP Classic Car Show was free with door prizes, a silent auction, entertainment, awards and live music ! Event proceeds were given as scholarships to local nursing students.

Doug Landau, who was declared the Masters Champion of the inaugural Warrenton Virginia Sprint Triathlon, and Colorado triathlete John Brannock, after the race

Rarely are the results re-done after the day of the race.  However, the Virginia Triathlon Series published final results from Sunday’s inaugural Warrenton Sprint Triathlon.  Several athletes were not just penalized under the USAT Rules, but disqualified.  After posting 5 km running splits of 13 – 15 minutes on a difficult course, it became clear to officials that some triathletes had only done one lap of the 2-loop run course.  With the corrected results, ABRAMS LANDAU‘s Doug Landau became the winner of not only his age group, but also the Masters competition champion.  However, this was not the only winning verdict this day…

In the Landau Law Shop‘s jury trial in Alexandria, Virginia, the civil jury returned with a verdict of $182,000 plus pre-judgment interest from the date the personal injury lawsuit was filed after 4 hours of deliberations at the King Street Court House.  This was also a “correction,” as Landau’s client had been badly injured as the result of a 2 car crash while she was simply the innocent passenger, and yet the 3 insurance company lawyers made NO OFFERS to settle the case since November, when the case was filed.

Biker AND bicycle safety lawyer Doug Landau in Old Town Alexandria (VA)

Bike racks do not have to be ugly metal masses in our city centers.  Rather, the places to secure one’s bicycle can be artistic, and even be incorporated into the overall look of the town.  While arguing Pre- Trial motions at the Courthouse in Old Town Alexandria, bike crash injury lawyer Doug Landau noticed the bike racks along King Street in front of the Courthouse Plaza – the original home of ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd.  Art and function in the same unit !  Landau salutes the Alexandria City planners, architects and artists.