1. Medical expenses (Ambulance, Hospital, physical therapy, medical bills, mileage, medications, miscellaneous), past and anticipated in the future
2. Loss of Earnings (past and future)
3. Damage to the bicycle and other personal property
4. Permanent impairment of the injured arm, leg, etc.
5. Scarring (i.e., scar revision will cost $_______ and cause you to miss ____ days/weeks from work (get an estimate from a board certified plastic surgeon)),
6. Your life expectancy.  In other words, how long will you have to see the orthopedic doctor, take anti-inflammatories, pain medications and have related expenses ?
7. Any increased risk of arthritic changes, bone and joint disease and re-injury
8. Aggravation and inconvenience are also to be compensated in addition to pain, lost wages, lost earning capacity and mental suffering.
9. Did the injured cyclist attempt to mitigate her damages ?
10. Was the injured biker at all at fault in causing the accident ?

For a more in depth approach to this question, please download or order our book “TEN MISTAKES THAT CAN DERAIL YOUR BIKE INJURY CASE.“

• The driver’s first words were, “Didn’t you see my door open?”
  The injured biker’s first words were, “I have a broken arm.”

After a number of suggestions by bicycle crash lawyer Doug Landau and investigation of additional facts, this 2005 bike accident case settled for $126,000 and the injured cyclist, who is a professional musician, was able to avoid the expense, additional time loss and unpredictability of trial.  Because there are strict time limits for claims against truck and car drivers who “door” cyclists or cause other bicycle related accidents, 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.

Bicycling East on the W&OD Trail by the dog kennel, ABRAMS LANDAU biker lawyer Doug Landau almost ran over this poisonous copperhead snake !

Here is the photo showing where I saw the snake during the Reston century bike ride.  Yesterday I posted a “close up” of this deadly W&OD Trail user. Because I want all cyclists to return home safely, I looked about for information on how best to protect yourself.  Here are some tips from the “Bicycling Australia” where they have LOTS of poisonous snakes !) to help you manage the “risks of the road:”

• Always ride with others. It makes sense in case of any accident or mechanical failure, not just in case of snakebite. If you are close to town, you can rely on a mobile phone, the ambulance service or a nearby car. In more remote riding areas you need to be self-sufficient. Most first aid kits contain a large bandage that may be very useful if you are unlucky enough to get bitten. The prime rule is to remain as calm as possible and do not go seeking medical attention, rather bring help to you. To panic and ride in search of help will distribute the venom, if any, through your system. Sitting calmly by the trail waiting for assistance is important.
• Your riding companion may have to go and seek help for you. Use the bandage to put pressure over the wound. Not too tightly and definitely not a tourniquet, wrap over the bite and then along the limb (assuming it was an arm or leg that got attacked). On the torso use the bandage to apply pressure over the wound. Venom is distributed through the slow moving lymphatic system (not the speedy arterial system) so if you don’t move a lot, the toxins won’t either. For more information on treatment go to www.stjohn.org.au or, more appropriately, take a first aid course to get up to speed on how to best manage incidents such as this.
• If at all possible, identify the type of snake that did the damage. Note colour, size, shape of head and so on. Take a photo of it with your digital phone if you can but do not try to capture the snake or more biting will ensue! Awareness of your surroundings and knowing what to do should snakebite happen are really all the properly prepared cyclist need consider.

DC area running stalwart James Scarborough and Herndon trial lawyer Doug Landau after the March of Dimes "Bolt for Babies" 5k this morning

The March of Dimes also has such fund-raising  events as “Bikers for Babies” and “Walk for Babies.”  This year’s Bolt for Babies was a huge success with over 125 participants.  According to the official results, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau of Herndon managed to get 5th place overall, and was a top age group finisher, easily winning the 50-59 age category.  Landau was using today’s event to prepare for the USAT National Sprint Triathlon Championships at the end of September.  While his time was slow (6:45 per mile average), his placing and lack of soreness afterwards were encouraging.  Tomorrow the Virginia sports injury lawyer intends to do a “brick” workout on the Reston Triathlon bike and run courses, as the ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. attorney is scheduled to be a volunteer at South Lakes High School on Saturday and then race on Sunday, September 12th, 2010.

In Washington, bikers have found the city streets of Seattle to be more dangerous than friendly.  Six bicyclists have filed a lawsuit against the city of Seattle over safety hazards concerning the South Lake Union Streetcar tracks.  All six of the plaintiffs have suffered serious injuries as a result of their bike tires becoming caught in the tracks.  This happened as a result of the width of the streetcar tracks being wider than the bicycle tires, which caused the tires to catch and the cyclists to crash.  As in the instance of the six plaintiffs, this can result in serious and sometimes catastrophic injuries.  The lawsuit claims that the city was aware of the potential dangers to bicyclists, but failed to post warning signs or add any additional safety measures.  The lawsuit is seeking general damages, compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and attorneys’ fees.  The lesson to be learned is that “biker friendly” does not always mean “biker safe.”

Biker and trial lawyer Doug Landau and cycling friends at a Loudoun County rest stop in Hamilton, during the Reston Century, where well-marked sinkholes and road defects made for a safe ride.

At ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., we recommend that if you come upon grooves, street car or trolley tracks that are parallel to your direction of travel, avoid getting too close, as narrow road bike wheels can get entrapped and stuck.   We have represented injured bikers who have been thrown from their bicycles due to roadway defects and dangerous street conditions.  Move to a different street, or even walk your bike rather than risking damaging your bike and injury to yourself.

Reston Century bike riders at the Hamilton rest stop

The 28th Annual Reston Century took place today, starting and finishing at the Reston Town Center Pavilion.  Over 1,200 bicycle riders enjoyed the excellent weather, Virginia’s rolling hills, snow cones, lunch and a great t-shirt this year.  Herndon sports injury lawyer Doug Landau also managed to eat a half dozen peanut butter & jelly sandwiches at the Loudoun bike rest stop, as he did not expect to do over 108 miles on his sprint triathlon racing bike !

Traveling with friends from Herndon, the Reston Bike Club and the WorldGators Masters team at Sport & Health, Worldgate, the Triathlon Trial Lawyer managed to finish in a little over 8 hours.  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer saw no accidents, injuries, crashes or other mishaps on the roads or W&OD Trail.  In fact, Loudoun County police were out to provide extra safety at otherwise dangerous road crossings and insections.  While this is longer than any athletic event Landau has ever signed up for or ever plans to do, the athletic Virginia Trial Lawyer believes that it is important to have strength and endurance in order to succeed in sometimes gruelling trials.  The Reston Bike Club puts on safe rides and other events, and Landau and his wife have joined in order to participate in their weeknight rides in Reston and Herndon.

Doug Landau at the 20 mile marker of the W&OD Trail by the caboose in Herndon, Virginia, about 100 yards from the ABRAMS LANDAU buildings

In a word, “yes.”  Not including my own crashes while commuting, racing or just riding, I recently caused another rider to fall.  While riding with the Reston Bike Club, I got carried away talking to a new acquaintance.  I caused another rider to go off the the lip of the road – there was no shoulder, as it was the new construction near Shaker Woods in Herndon, Virginia.  Luckily the young cyclist, a Pharmacist with Prosperity Pharmacy suffered some scrapes and road rash but no more serious injury and is back riding (I later saw her again at the Reston Century !).  I have also since ridden with the Reston Bike Club “4s” as well as the 3s and 2s.  Riding with the Reston riders is fun, great exercise and I believe safer than riding alone sometimes.  I usually carry a small first aid kit as well as a phone, just in case another rider has a fall.  Hopefully, the rest of my 2010 bike riding season will be safe and uneventful…

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

The Luray Triathlon is set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the beautiful town of Luray.  A half mile one loop swim in pristine Lake Arrowhead gets athletes ready for the rolling 16.5 mile bike on paved roads surrounded by the woods and farms of the Shenandoah Valley.  The race concludes with a 5K that is an out and back with rolling hills and all on the roads of Page County.  Landau has competed successfully in the Olympic Distance Race, which uses much of the same routes.

Rehab to racing coaches Rob (in the middle) & Stephanie Colburn at the Luray Triathlon, where he completed both races

The VTS race directors suggest that athletes come to Luray with its 300+ acres of award-winning parkland and spend some time exploring the downtown and seeing what the Shenandoah Valley has to offer !  Set Up, Inc. offers a real challenge for IronMan and half Iron athletes who want to test themselves over 2 days.   Billed as the “Luray Double,” Athletes who complete the “Luray Double” by completing the Luray International and Luray Sprint in the same weekend receive a special hand-engraved goblet.  Furthermore, comic strip “Frazz” creator Jef Mallet is slated to try the “Luray Double” as is “Rehab to Racing” Coach and training partner Rob Colburn.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle, running or pedestrian accident or an insurance company is denying their injury claim, please e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) at once, as it is very important to investigate these cases as soon as possible after the crash.