TheAthletesLawyer

When a New York cyclist got “doored” by a careless motorist, his arm was so badly broken, that the surgeon had to put the shattered pieces together with 2 plates, 13 screws and wire.  Without any warning, the driver opened the door into the biker’s path, putting the bike commuter into the hospital for three nights.  The injured biker contacted bike accident lawyer Doug Landau to find out how best to proceed, since he had over $27,215 in medical bills and the comminuted fracture in his upper arm did not properly knit.  The bicycle commuter told the ABRAMS LANDAU trial lawyer that rarely a day goes by that his arm isn’t sore, that he’s not reminded of the injury.  He notices increased soreness in cold and damp weather and he is concerned with the possibility of early-onset arthritis resulting from the injury.

• 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.

The 3rd Annual Bolt for Babies 5K running race benefitting the March of Dimes was held today at Marymount’s Arlington Campus.  The March of Dimes is the champion for ALL babies and continues to make strides in the fight against premature birth!

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.

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

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.

ABRAMS LANDAU Trial lawyer Doug Landau has helped clients injured by potholes and other roadway defects.  One case in the District of Columbia involved a pothole that swallowed the ABRAMS LANDAU client’s front wheel while driving under L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C.  Another client of cyclist lawyer Doug Landau was injured when his bicycle tire went into a hole on the Virginia bike path that was filled with water so it was impossible to see the dangerous condition.  Recently brought to the Herndon Reston injury lawyer’s attention was a lawsuit over a pot hole accident that settled in Missouri.

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.