The Athlete's Lawyer

What happens when an injured cyclist hires a lawyer who says he can handle a personal injury case and that lawyer fails to take steps to advance the injured athlete’s case, and in fact becomes suspended from the practice of law just as the 2 year deadline approaches ?

Herndon sports injury lawyer Doug Landau and law enforcement volunteers at a local running race

This recently happened at ABRAMS LANDAU, where we get a large and sad number of calls every year from injured victims who retain lawyers who should not be handling personal injury cases. Often these lawyers are general practitioners who will not invest time, effort or money in serious injury cases, “friends of a friend,” and advertising charlatans who never go to court. While we counsel callers to try to work out their differences with the lawyer they have got, there are some instances when this is impossible, and they make a change. For example, when their present lawyer is retiring, or has passed away, then certainly we will meet with them. However, in a case such as this where the deadline was approaching and the Leesburg lawyer supposedly handling the biker’s crash injury case would not return letters, phone calls, e-mails or faxes, then immediate change of counsel was necessary. When Leesburg bike accident lawyer Doug Landau called the Virginia State Bar to enquire as to this lawyer, he was advised to tell the plaintiff to call the Bar’s office. Apparently, the lawyer originally retained was on a Suspension for Failure to Comply with a Subpoena, effective June 9th of 2010. This was just published, after the 2 year time limit had run, in the Virginia Lawyer Register.

Luckily, the ABRAMS LANDAU law firm filed the lawsuit within the time limits, and is now proceeding to get medical records, investigative reports, Traffic Court transcripts and other items necessary for the successful prosecution and settlement of a serious bike crash injury case.  Because there are strict time limits for claims against drivers who run over or crash into cyclists, if you or someone you know has been injured by someone else’s negligence or fault, e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) at once.

Chantilly High School is experimenting with a voluntary workout program for their marching band.   With brass and percussion instruments weighing as much as 40 pounds, increases to students’ endurance mean sharper turns, crisper stepping and faster flag twirling for the color guard.  In other words, the Chantilly Chargers marching band formations will be “in shape” this season.  As a former marching band trumpeter myself, I was surprised to learn that, according to CHS marching band Director Ross,

• “The heart rate a student has marching through an eight-minute show is almost what a marathon runner’s would reach.  The students who are athletes go through a conditioning program. We wanted to make sure our kids do, too.”

Band directors Gary English and Drew Ross told the Fairfax Times: “We decided to do something new this year Read the rest of this entry »

The view from the W&OD Trail in Herndon

Lines stretched passed the Herndon Dairy Queen and along the W&OD Trail today as people waited in line to sample local wines, beers and hear a variety of musical artists.  The Herndon Town Green and a perfect weather day made for a superb day.

Doug Landau was on his way to the Landau Law Shop 2 blocks away when he noticed downtown Herndon was set up for great music, crafts, food, 12 wineries and, new this year, micro-brews.

Crafts tents stretched to the Caboose at the 20 mile marker of the W&OD Trail in Herndon, Virginia, for the Labor Day Music Festival

In keeping with the Reston/Herndon area’s emphasis on driver safety and family entertainment, there were reduced pride tickets in the “Designated Driver/Entertainment Only” category and Children 12 and under were free of charge.  So, while this is not legal advice, Herndon Reston area injury lawyer Doug Landau suggests that you mark the Herndon Labor Day Music & Crafts Festival on your calendar for next year – there’s something for everyone !

Hiking in the Adirondacks can be exhilirating

If you ever want to clear your head, take a hike in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid and Lake George, New York. My cousin took my wife and I on a glorious hike after the wedding of our cousin, before we had to head back to Virginia. We were accompanied by his amazing three-legged dog. The dog not only kept up with us on the steepest inclines, but chased squirrels and covered twice the distance we walked.

The scene says it all. You could see for miles. The air was sweet. At night there were billions of stars. And the leaves were just starting to get their Autumnal colors. When I return to this part of the world, I hope to take other, longer hikes, and see more of these glorious vistas.

Can you guess which cyclist is the groom ?

Labor Day weekend is a wonderful time for bike rides in the Adirondacks. Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau was asked to “escort” the groom on a ride the morning of the wedding in upstate New York. The bride wanted her husband-to-be to be back for the nuptials on time. The Herndon Reston area attorney is used to the pressure of deadlines. The bride also selected Landau because in addition to being a lawyer, he has medical training and always brings bail money, just in case ! The active wedding weekend included Read the rest of this entry »

Open water swimming safety should be every aquatic sports and multisport athlete's priority

Lakes present great opportunities to practice open water swimming techniques.  Summer swimming at lakes, ocean beaches and elsewhere enables multipart and aquatic athletes to escape the confines of the lap lane and really focus on efficient stroke mechanics.  There is the sense of freedom and accomplishment, as you can see the distance covered.  Plus, swimming with or against a current gives a very different “feel” than the stagnant water in the swimming pool.

Here are some tips for safe swimming in a lake, ocean or other “open water” venue  Read the rest of this entry »

Donna Rostant, Doug Landau, Chuck James & Rob Urbach at the Reston Triathlon pre-race registration

While the Reston Triathlon fills up in a nanosecond, the great staff, volunteers and community support make the hassle of waiting by your computer worth it.  The Reston Triathlon Association Board meets throughout the year and has the triathletes’ safety and enjoyment in mind at all times.  Donna, Boofie, Tom, Chuck, Bunny, Abbie, Joe, Richard and the rest of the Reston stalwarts put in a lot of time, effort and sweat into making race day a success.  This year, the run course was marked with mile markers, arrows and some of the trail’s bridges were replaced.

The Reston race crew get up hours before the participants, set up the transition racks in the day’s leading up to the race and then have to clean up the Lake Audubon landing and South Lakes High School finish line and transition area.  It is exhausting work.  So, please consider writing a letter to the editor of your local paper to compliment the people who work tirelessly to enable multisport athletes  to participate in a fun local tradition – the Reston Triathlon.

Luray Sprint Triathlon Masters prize winners receive their awards from Race Director David Glover

After driving out to Luray through the fog and rain on the morning of this race, Doug Landau barely made it to his heat on time.  The warm water of Lake Arrowhead meant that wetsuits were not legal for those competing for prizes.  Even though the Herndon Reston area triathlete lawyer was not part of the Virginia Triathlon Series this year, he nevertheless wanted a good time in order to assess his fitness in advance of next month’s USAT National Sprint Triathlon Championships.  However, in addition to not having his beloved wetsuit, Landau also blew the valve off his race wheel.  “Always prepared,” the resourceful trial lawyer brought his training wheels (and an extra helmet, goggles, water bottles, etc.), because he has had to go with “Plan B” before !

"Frazz" comic strip creator and accomplished triathlete Jef Mallet and Doug Landau clink their crystal award glasses after the Luray Virginia Sprint Triathlon

After his inauspicious pre-race preparations, Landau had a mediocre swim, but managed to not get passed on dry land, reeling athletes throughout the bike and run portions of the race.  Landau finished in the top 20 out of over 400 athletes, easily winning his age group and getting a carved goblet for 3rd place master in a time of 1:29:32.  As the oldest racer in the top 20, Landau did not feel sore afterwards, and was glad to have a chance to talk with “Frazz” comic strip creator Jef Mallet.  Landau has often clipped and sent “Frazz” strips to his friends and family.  Mallet finished both the Luray Sprint AND the Olympic Distance race the day before.  Now that’s hard core !

Click here for Official Results

Bikers get ready tosort themselves into groups 1-5 & start out on a Thursday night Reston Bike Club ride in Herndon

Instead of riding with the Reston Bike Club tonight, Doug Landau went, cowbell and bicycle helmets in hand, to speak to the assembled cyclists about safety, crashes, speeding, stopping and avoiding peleton accidents and car crashes.  Landau showed the bikers smashed helmets from cases he has won on behalf of injured cyclists and asked them to keep their speed reasonable on the W&OD Trail, where pedestrians, strollers, joggers and bladders would be foreseeably encountered.

The ABRAMS LANDAU sports injury lawyer furthermore suggested that the faster bike riders use the Trail portion of the evening workout as their “warm up” before hitting speeds of 20-30 mph on the open roads of Loudoun County.  While other cyclists and runners had talked about “near misses” and accidents on the Trail, Landau was willing to “bell the cat.”  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer was thanked for his remarks by the Reston Bike Club President and other safety conscious bikers.  While sports injury lawyer Landau will not likely ever win a popularity contest among competitive road cyclists nor a bicyclists’ fashion show, safety on the roads and trails of Herndon is important.  These popular Thursday night rides start within sight of the Landau Law Shop; so we hope that our friends and training partners will not have to use our first aid, nursing or other bike crash accident and injury related offerings.

This was the crux of a notice Loudoun, Fairfax and Leesburg brain injury lawyer Doug Landau received in Charlottesville while preparing for the appeal of a brain injury case.

The Stroke Association wants people to know that strokes are the #3 killer in this country, yet many people don’t even know what they are. They don’t know that more of the brain can be saved if a stroke is detected and treatment is received immediately. Strokes begin when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts. Blow flow is cut off. Tissue is starved for oxygen, and parts of the brain die. If not treated quickly, abilities and productive life can be lost. Learn to spot the warning signs of a stroke or call 1-888-4-STROKE, and act quickly. Your brain is your most prized possession. Guard it with your life.