• 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.

Poisonous snakes are a danger to cyclists. Bicycle riders, joggers, roller bladers and skaters need to be aware of dangerous animals in their path

While riding in the Reston Century last Sunday, I almost ran over a snake.  Not just any snake, but a poisonous copperhead that was sunning itself in the middle of the path !  Luckily, I avoided contact with the venomous reptile, but this is not the first time I have seen a large snake on the W&OD Trail in Loudoun County.  Another snake incident nearly caused me to swerve and crash.  And, a black snake my wife ran over nearly bit me as I followed her near the Luck quarry ! While these snakes can be quite beautiful, it is best to give them a wide berth and not incite an attack that could prove fatal.

The Reston Runners website also reports “An unusually high number of copperhead snakes have recently been reported in Fairfax County. Copperheads are venomous snakes that are found here and throughout Virginia.”  In tomorrow’s post, I will share some excellent tips from an Australian cycling site.  The Aussies have to contend with a number of the most dangerous poisonous snakes on the planet, so their bikers and runners have a lot of good safety information to share with athletes here in America.

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.

ABRAMS LANDAU lawyer Doug Landau donated a Wii system to the Brain Injury Services and volunteered at last year's Kit Callahan's Miracle Mile running races

Get ready for the 7th Annual Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile, 10K, 2 Miler, Kid’s Fun Run and a Brain Injury Awareness Fair.  Join us on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at George Mason University for a great day of fun and learning for the whole family.  All activities at the Fair are FREE and Kid’s Under 10 Run/Walk for FREE.  You can not ask for a better family outing then this event.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau has been a volunteer and sponsor of this wonderful event, and you may have seen the Herndon brain injury lawyer passing out flyers at local races for these running races.

Brain Injury Services Fair Activities will include:

• Face Painting by DeeVinchey and Friends
• Fire Truck
• Dr. Aravich and his Brains
• Coloring Station
• Bike Helmet Giveaway (while supplies last)
• Brain Injury 101 Education
• Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Education Booth
• and much, much more!!

Great Family Fun Activity
From Brain Injury Services!
and……it won’t break your bank!

For more information or to register today please visit Kits Miracle Mile website

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…

According to the Kansas Star, Jackson County Missouri, has agreed to a $270,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by a cyclist who crashed his bike in a pot hole last summer. The plaintiff in this personal injury lawsuit was riding his motorcycle in east Jackson County when he pot hole ankle-deep and as wide as his arms, his lawsuit claims, suffering serious injuries. The suit alleges the county was previous aware of the dangerous pot hole but had done nothing to fix it.  Where there is a dangerous condition and sufficient “notice” such that the landowner knew or should have known about it and fixed, warned or taken other action to prevent foreseeable injuries, the law may affix liability and hold such a defendant liable for all of the Plaintiff’s reasonable and related losses.

If you have been harmed by the negligence or fault of a landowner, occupier, maintenance company or management group, e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555).

The scene outside my neighborhood this morning after the rush hour bike crash just East of the Fairfax County Parkway, Virginia Route 7100 on West Ox Road

As I left my Oak Hill neighborhood this morning, I was immediately stopped because a biker had apparently been hit by a car and badly injured at West Ox Road and Ashburton in the Herndon – Oakton Woods area of Fairfax County.  Emergency Medical responders and Fire and Rescue teams were dispatched quickly.

EMTs assess, secure and prepare to transport thte injured biker this morning after an apparent crash at West Ox Road and Ashburton, in Oak Hill, Virginia

The EMTs and ambulance came to the scene of this rush hour bike crash and immediately set about to assess and then treat the injured athlete.  This car and bicycle crash occurred between Oak Farms Drive and the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 7100), about exits North of Fair Oaks Hospital.  The injured cyclist was being loaded onto a stretcher and had been placed in a neck brace to protect his neck from spinal cord damage as we were allowed to pass.  It brought home the fact that bike crashes can happen around the corner as well as far away on the trails, tours and race courses.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the injured cyclist and his family, and we hope that he gets appropriate medical care and recovers quickly.

If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of a bike crash, car accident or sports injury, please contact us by e-mail at ABRAMS LANDAU or call (703)-796-9555.

Bike crash and head injury lawyer Doug Landau always wears his helmet when riding his bicycle outdoors

Sports and recreational injury lawyer Doug Landau is proud to announce that the DC Trial Lawyers Foundation is giving away 200 bike helmets to D.C. kids on Thursday, June 10, 2010.  The event will take place at the Anne Beers Elementary School located at 3600 Alabama Ave SE Washington DC.  The hours are from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Stop by any time!  This event was rescheduled from an earlier date in June.  The DC Trial Lawyers Foundation is the charitable arm of the DC Trial Lawyers Association.

Attending the monthly educational meetings of the Trial Lawyers of DC enables Herndon Reston and Leesburg injury lawyer Doug Landau to keep abreast of the latest developments in personal injury law in the District of Columbia.  Landau is an active member of the DC and Virginia Trial Lawyers Associations in order to share notes and strategies with other experienced trial lawyers in the DC Metropolitan area.  Landau, who has represented injured bikers, children and athletes, also belongs to, teaches and writes for the American Association for Justice (”AAJ”), the national trial lawyer association for many of the same reasons.