TheAthletesLawyer

USAT CEO Skip Gilbert and Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau at the USAT Duathlon natinal Championsips in Richmond, Virginia

As a Sprint Triathlon and Aquathon All American, as well as an Olympic Distance Honorable Mention award winner, Herndon multisport athlete and attorney Doug Landau feels that it is important to support the national governing body and the people who volunteer their time so that races can be conducted safely.  Over the years, Lawyer Landau has contributed to become a “gold member,” directed, sponsored and volunteered at athletic events.

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon – one of the fastest growing sports in the world – as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 133,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games.

Avid cyclist, duathlete and Triathlon Trial lawyer Doug Landau compares state laws on "Comparitive Negligence" and the time it takes to get a sports injury case to a jury in Court

In yesterday’s post, the verdict in favor of the injured athlete was reported after an 8 year wait for the cyclist’s “day in court.”  The damages supporting the $2,900,000 jury verdict were substantial.  The permanently injured biker broke 4 vertebrae in her neck.  When the accident happened, the Plaintiff was host of a local-access television program about mountain biking. The injured cyclist now works at the front desk of a health club; she previously worked as an illustrator of children’s books.

The long wait to get to trial does not surprise injured athletes lawyer Doug Landau, who has prevailed in personal injury cases in Connecticut many years after the crash or dog attack.  This bike crash personal injury lawsuit took eight years to resolve the case because of a dispute about whether the Metropolitan District Commission (”MDC”) was immune from responsibility.  After a four-day trial, the jury decided the authority was not immune from responsibility for the injuries and harms caused by its negligence. However, the jury also found that the Plaintiff was partially responsible.

In Virginia, that finding, that the Plaintiff was partially to blame, would have resulted in a Defense verdict according to injured and disabled bikers’ lawyer Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. In ABRAMS LANDAU cases in Connecticut and other Northern States, injured clients benefit from the law of “Comparitive Fault” but wait many years for their “day in court.” Another interesting note about the case is that three Plaintiff had offered to settle the case for less than the amount awarded by the jury, but MDC refused.  If you or someone you know has been injured while riding their bicycle in a car crash, due to an unsafe condition or because of a product defect, please e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) right away, as their are important time deadlines in every legal claim.

Many bikers commuting on "Bike to Work Day" will go right past the Herndon Reston Sterling area Landau Law Shop

It’s free, it’s fun and it’s physical !  “Bike to Work Day” is in 3 weeks.  Join thousands of area commuters and Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work!  There rate 35 regional pit stops, with SWAG, mechanics and riders of all levels.  Try a ride into the city with experienced commuter convoys and meet your fellow cyclists at Freedom Plaza.  Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections invite you to try bicycling to work as an alternative to solo driving. Help the Washington region become a better place to ride, a cleaner environment and a healthier community.  Bike to Work Day is a FREE event and open to all area commuters.  The ABRAMS LANDAU sports injury lawyer has participated a number of times, and Doug Landau enjoys the camaraderie, mechanical check ups and the freebies.  There will be a raffle, prizes, food, drink and more at all pit stops throughout the region.  Free T-shirts will available for the first 8,500 registrants who are in attendance at the pit stop they registered for in advance.  Registration for Bike to Work Day 2010 is now open!
Click on the pit stop link and register for the pit stop rally you plan to attend.  Raffles will be held at each pit stop for prizes including commuter bags, bike locks, and bicycles.

Reston Bike Club riders meet down the block from ABRAMS LANDAU Thursday nights in the free Herndon Public Parking lot and across from the ArtSpace Building

The Reston Bike Club is once again riding outdoors on weeknights !  The Club meets Thursday evenings just down the block from the ABRAMS LANDAU buildings, and on Tuesday nights in the Hunters Woods Shopping Center.  There are levels for every skill level of bicycle rider, from the “Ones” who go so fast that they have stretch marks on their faces and bugs permanently embedded in their teeth when they are done (!) to the “Fives” who are very friendly, look out for each other and make for a more social ride.

The distances and routes change each week, and maps and directions are given out at the beginning of the rides.  This is a terrific group with whom I have ridden many times.  I have even gone running for a “brick” workout with other bikers in order to hone our multisport training.  Go to the the RBC’s website to get the details.  You can also call Doug or Melissa Landau at the Landau Law Shop (703-796-9555) or e-mail us if you have questions.

Ronald McDonald, Tim Hamon Race Director Tom Cook and Broadlands injury lawyer Doug Landau at the Van Metre 8km

Sunshine, a rolling course and a stiff breeze greeted runners at the annual Van Metre 8km road race today.  Broadlands and Ashburn area injury lawyer Doug Landau took ran despite calf pain, as a hard “brick” workout was planned in advance of the Virginia Duathlon later this month.  Seeing lots of friends and clients, Landau managed to average 7:05 per mile pace for the nearly 5 mile course.  For a complete race report and a picture of Lawyer Landau “in action,” go to RunWashington

The Loudoun personal injury trial lawyer then did a short cool down before driving to Herndon for a CompuTrainer cycling class at HPC.  After biking indoors, Landau completed the “brick” by running several more miles on the W&OD Trail horse cinder path in Herndon.  After this grueling athletic effort, the experienced sports injury attorney showered at the Landau law Shop, got the weekend’s mail and then had a large lunch with his son, who was in town from Virginia Tech for another medical school interview.

Leesburg and Hamilton area lawyer Landau has participated in the Van Metre race several times.  The well run race raises funds for Children’s National Medical Center pediatric hospital.  Some of ABRAMS LANDAU’s youngest clients have received excellent trauma care at Childrens National, which  ranks among the best pediatric hospitals Read the rest of this entry »

Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau getting his VO2 Max tested in Herndon, Virginia

VO2 Max testing is something triathlete Doug Landau has been familiar with since the early 1980s.  During graduate studies in Sports Medicine, Landau volunteered to be a test subject at Boston University, and had his VO2 Max tested.  Since then, he has had the testing done on treadmills, bicycles and stepping machines.   VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is one factor that can determine an athlete’s capacity to perform sustained exercise and is linked to aerobic endurance. “VO2 max” refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an athlete can use during intense or maximal exercise.  It is measured as “milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight.”  So, Landau points out, you want to be lean, efficient and able to remain “aerobic” at very high work loads, speeds or paces.”  For an excellent discussion of this testing and the information it reveals, check out the National Geographic piece entitled, “What It Takes to Build the Unbeatable Body.”

This measurement is generally considered the one of the best indicators of an athlete’s cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. Theoretically, the more oxygen you can use during high level exercise, the more ATP (energy) you can produce. This is often the case with elite endurance athletes who typically have very high VO2 max values.  There are special workouts Landau does in order to increase his oxygen intake capacity and efficiency.  Periodic testing enables athletes to gauge their fitness and refine their training regimens.  You can get a VO2 Max Test a block from the ABRAMS LANDAU building in Herndon at HPC.

For a quick meal on the go, Herndon trial lawyer Doug Landau, like Reston attorney Bob Nicoli, will often stop at Robeks for a healthy smoothie, wrap or salad. Since the smoothies are made to order, they are fresh and contain only those ingredients you select. After a particularly long or intense workout, or when recuperating from an injury, sports accident lawyer Landau will get a protein blend so that repair to damaged tissues can begin immediately with the necessary amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Winning races is not easy. It takes focused training, regular rest and diet discipline, especially during the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Years. TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau points out, “What we eat, how much rest we get and how hard we train are all important parts of the fitness equation. Smart triathletes and trial lawyers get all three in balance.” So the next time you need a quick meal, skip “Mickey D’s” and the “BK lounge” and instead try a healthier alternative like Robeks.

Doug Landau & Beatrice Vargas of ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. holding copies of his new bike crash book

ABRAMS LANDAU received its first shipment of Doug Landau’s new book, “Ten Mistakes That Can Derail Your Bicycle Injury Case.” Drawing upon over 25 years’ experience helping injured cyclists, disabled riders and their families, Herndon and Reston bike crash lawyer Landau compiled a book that cyclists have been requesting online since this summer’s court cases in Loudoun County. Landau’s bike crash book had been available through SPOKES Magazine, Potomac Peddler’s “Pedal Patter” newspaper and other Bicycle clubs and bike shops.  In addition to common sense tips and actual cases, Landau provides extensive forms, explanations and details that many so-called personal injury lawyers neglect to share with their clients. As the Landau Law Shop is regularly contacted by injured bikers, this new book is intended to be a helpful resource for injured cyclists.

If you or someone you know would like to get a copy, please e-mail ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. or call (703)796-9555.

Underground parking lot storage for bike commuters in Washington, D.C.

Unsafe bike storage facilities is one of the top reasons why many weekend cyclists are not bicycle commuters during the week. My last Disability trial in Washington, D.C. showed me that there are buildings in the Nation’s Capitol with excellent and easy to use bike storage facilities.

These pictures were taken

Bikes parked near the new Social Security Disbility Hearing office in North West Washington, D.C.

below ground next door to the new D.C. Social Security Administration Hearing site at 25th Street, N.W., near “M” Street. After winning a difficult Social Security Disability case, Herndon Reston lawyer Doug Landau explored the various racks, storage areas, signs and parking lots for bicycles. Even the all important bicycle helmets and smelly bike shoes could be left to “air out” with a cable through them in this designated area. While Landau has taken his bike to Court in Old Town Alexandria, Leesburg (Loudoun County), he has yet to bike to a hearing before a Federal Administrative Law Judge. However, with this new hearing venue, and its abundant bicycle parking, Landau may very well become “the real deal on 2 wheels” in court as well !

Brain Injury race volunteer Doug Landau of ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia campus

This Fall Doug Landau served as a race volunteer at several area running at multi-sport events.  Helping out at the Reston Triathlon, the Brain Injury Association 10 km and the Williamsburg 5 km, the Ashburn area injury lawyer enjoyed seeing familiar faces and encouraging athletes to to participate for a good cause.  Having been the race director for the “F.A.B. 5″ race that raised money for the Foundation of the Alexandria Bar Association in Old Town, Landau recognizes the time, effort and sweat that goes into a successful athletic fund raiser. “If you have never been a volunteer, you should just do it,” says Landau, paraphrasing the NIKE slogan.  “Volunteering, seeing things from the race crew perspective, enables you to appreciate what the volunteers do for you,” the Loudoun injury lawyer adds.  “There are lots of opportunities in the Leesburg, Fairfax and Manassas areas; you can find a race almost every weekend of the year, just go to our “RACES” section adds Landau, who competed in over a dozen multisport events and two dozen running races so far in 2009.