The Athlete's Lawyer

While the Landau Law Shop is currently helping several victims of traumatic brain injury and we are once again sponsoring the Brain Injury Association‘s road runs at the end of the month, a recent radio news story caught head injury lawyer Landau’s attention.  “Is It Easier For Some Athletes To Suffer Brain Damage?” is the premise, and the coverage centered on professional football players and head trauma.

According to the news report, an autopsy has shown that Chris Henry, the young Cincinnati Bengal who died a few months ago, suffered what is called CTE –– chronic traumatic encephalopathy –– which means, more simply, that his brain had been traumatized.

CTE can be diagnosed only in the brain tissue of cadavers, and 22 deceased former NFL players have been identified as having had it. Studies also show that elderly men who played football have four times the rate of dementia as do other U.S. males.

What makes the Henry case so frightening, however, is that he is the first current player to be diagnosed with CTE — and his case is even more of a concern because it doesn’t seem that he suffered any serious concussions. How easy might it be for certain athletes to have their brains damaged?

Not just football players either. Studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics have shown that girls get concussions on the soccer field at much the same rate as boys do playing football. One cannot watch the World Cup, where players slug balls 60 sixty miles an hour with their heads — not to mention banging into opponents’ heads — without thinking that the world’s finest soccer athletes must surely be at the same risk of CTE as NFL players.

Jim Joyce was himself a football player. He got concussions of his own and also remembers laughing at befuddled teammates when they got, in the vernacular, “dinged.” It was all a joke then, all part of being a tough guy on the gridiron. READ THE REST OF THE STORY

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.

Coach Todd Katz of Hammer Down Cross Fit training in Chantilly Virginia putting people through their paces !

Recently my bride and I were invited to try out our friend Todd Katz’s “Hammer down cross fit” training program at his home.  As an athlete who likes interval training sessions and respects the incredible results of English mile champion Sebastian Coe, who mixed calisthenics with explosive movements and continuous movement, I was keen to see what Hammer Down Cross Fit was all about.  Todd had told me that Cross Fit can help with sports injury prevention, posture and core strength – all good things for this triathlon trial lawyer.

En route to a race in Southern Florida, we came across this Cross Fit studio !

Several friends have been training through the winter with Katz, who is an exceptional runner and competes in long distance road races.  First of all, it was cold.  Hard core cold.  Don’t take off your mittens cold, as we lifted dumbbells, did push ups, sit ups and other exercises outdoors on a frigid morning.  There was some running also involved, and the “regulars” seemed to feed off the energy and each other.  Todd recorded repetitions, tines and PRs and most looked like they were having fun.  My wife’s favorite part was the hot coffee afterwards.  I liked snack time.  Todd now has a permanent INDOOR location in Chantilly, and many videos showing you the exercise routines.  So, if you want something different, give Cross Fit a try !  Call Todd and visit his Chantilly fitness studio and see if what Cross Fit training has for you,

Tomorrow’s post about a winter athlete who sustained a career ending brain injury (“TBI”) struck a note with me, as I and my family members have had several serious winter sports injuries.  While this TriathlonTrialLawyer has never ridden in a bobsled or luge, I spent many winter days, when I wasn’t making money shoveling driveways, sledding, bobsledding, skiing and discing in the snows of Jersey and New England.

Injury lawyer Doug Landau's broken bones healed after his sledding crash

One incident stands out.  My best friend and I had fashioned a “bobsled run” along our neighbor’s horse fence.  We had used the natural snow built up along the fence as a “wall” and built up snow on the other side to create our own “Olympic Bobsled Course.”  We were always concocting “Olympic Games” of our own, with unique events and creative scoring !  We did the run several times, and found that the higher up on the hill we started, the faster our top speed at the end.  So we started our last run above the “tube” that we had made and the sled had created.  Our sled took off, with me in front, my feet between he chains, and instead of following the tracks, we veered outside the course and smashed into our neighbor’s horse fence.  My friend’s body weight slammed into me, and our combined mass broke the bones in my lower leg.  Only I did not know it at the time !  The fence was electric, and I received a jolt of enough electricity to stop a horse.  When my buddy ran for help, I rolled off the sled and buried my leg in the snow, so it was doubly “numbed.”  I even got back on the sled and rode down to get a lift home !  That week, we thought it was a bone bruise, and I was pushed around the house i a chair that slid over the smooth carpet.  When I finally tried to stand, the leg would not support my weight and I fell.  We then went to see an orthopedic surgeon, and I was eventually casted, given crutches and healed over that winter.

So what became of the 2 “geniuses” who got into this crash ? One became a lawyer for people injured and disabled as the result of broken bones, crashes and sports injuries and the other a superb doctor, scientific researcher and the Chief of Rounds at Brown University Hospital.