The Athlete's Lawyer

DCRRC President, frequent road racer and genuinely nice guy Bob Platt reminded me that this Sunday is the 19th annual Reston 10 miler, 5K & Fun Run. The races start Sunday, March 15, 2009 on South Lakes Drive in front of South Lakes High School. Race time is 8 AM for 10 Miler and 8:05 for the 5km.

Both events finish at South Lakes High School on a certified course. Run on paved roads with gently rolling hills, the course covers some of the same roads as the wildly popular Reston Triathlon bike ride that sells out immediately each September. Sanctioned by USATF and the Potomac Valley Athletic Association, you can get a map of 10M Course online. NEW THIS YEAR: Runners will receive a technical T-shirt.

After a bike crash with a car, truck or dog, it may take time for the injuries to the cyclist to reveal themselves and then heal. However, once a bike frame is bent, it generally stays bent. So, for ABRAMS LANDAU clients who have been injured in bike crashes and other bicycle accidents, TheAthletesLawyer often will guide them on how to get their bike and other property repaired or replaced. This is known as the “property damage” or “PD” claim. This can be settled before and separately from the “bodily injury” or “BI” claim.

Both claims have time limits, and there may be limits to the amount of insurance the Defendant driver or homeowner may carry. However, many of the TriathlonTrialLawyer’s clients who ride regularly seek to get their bicycles fixed soon after a crash or other accident. In some cases, the property damage claim to have the bike fixed or repaired may be settled and paid years before the personal injury case is settled or tried in court.

Daylight Savings time means it’s lighter later in the morning. For “early bird” exercisers, that means that you should be wearing reflective, bright colored clothing so that you can be seen. You have seen me in my orange, yellow and other brightly colored garb. I practice what I preach.

I also try to wear my iPod when running on the track, turf field or spin class – NOT near the heavy traffic on the roads of Fairfax County and Loudoun County. Some Northern Virginia drivers seem to have little patience or courtesy when it comes to those of us who try to stay healthy through regular exercise. The DC Metro area roads and highways require extra vigilance on the part of runners, walkers, bikers, roller bladers, skate boarders, joggers, skaters, and wheelchair athletes.

Make sure that you see and can be seen. Look, listen and use all of your senses to avoid an accident and injury. In most every crash between a car or truck and a jogger or cyclist, the motor vehicle “wins.” Don’t lose valuable training time, your good health or time from your work and loved ones. Stay alert, dress so you can be seen, cross intersections carefully, use the cross walks and be aware. We want to see you on the trails, bike paths, roadways and races, NOT in our waiting room !

Calling All Triathlon Newbies!

Potomac River Running and the D.C.Running Coach Mike Hamberger are hosting an “INTRO TO TRIATHLON CLINIC” on Sunday, April 5th, 2009 from 7-8 PM at the BALLSTON Potomac River Running Store, 3924 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22203

It’s FREE!!

A panel of triathlon experts, including World Championship Duathlon competitor Michael  Hamberger and “Best in the US” Champion Margie Shapiro, will help answer your questions as you enter the Multisport World.

• Triathlon Terminology
• Training and Equipment Basics
• Open Water Swimming
• Race Selection and Registration
• What to Expect on Race Day
• Answers to questions YOU bring…

I am contacted by injured and disabled athletes from all over the United States.  Recently, I received a note from a Florida college football player who sustained a career ending neck injury.  This full scholarship athlete felt his neck was injured and went to the football team trainer.  His cervical area was sore, and he was starting to have symptoms.  However, both the trainer and the coach told him to get back out on the field.  You can probably guess the rest of the story.  This athlete has had major neck surgery and will never play football again.  he still attends the university where he was injured, and he resides in a state where schools and their employees have immunities and their are severe caps on what can be recovered even in successful cases.  These lawsuits are difficult and expensive, as expert medical testimony is almost always required to establish injury, causation and standard of care.

Bonzai Sports will once again be hosting the Quintana Roo Roadshow Saturday, March 21st, at their store at 2826 Fallfax Drive, Falls Church, Virginia from 10-6. This is billed as the East Coast’s “biggest triathlon expo.” The event is FREE, and you can talk directly to manufacturers and representatives of such triathlon companies as: Cervelo, Blue Seventy, Kuota, 2XU, Zipp, SiDi, Easton, Orbea, Felt, Look, LiteSpeed and others. Triathlon Trial lawyer Doug Landau will be competing in the USA Indoor Track & Field Masters national Championships that weekend, but he is sure to attend at least part of the Road Show. The Herndon Reston area injury and disability lawyer has purchased his excellent Cervelo P-3 racing bike, an ANSI certified aero bicycle helmet, post race recovery drink mixes and replacement parts from the Falls Church store.

Our friends at Potomac River Running (shown here at the Richmond Race Expo with TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau) have announced the 2009 Loudoun Racing Series line up.

- Sunday, 3/15 @ 9:00 AM: The Capital Running Company St. Patrick’s Day 8K in downtown DC.

- Saturday, 3/21: The Suntrust National Marathon and Half Marathon at RFK Stadium.

- Saturday, 3/28 @ 8:30 AM: The 15th Annual Van Metre 5-Mile Run for Children’s Hospital in the Broadlands. Packet Pickup and In-Person Registration available at the =PR= ASHBURNStore on Thursday, 3/26 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM.

- Sunday, 4/19 @ 8:30 AM: The LAWS ½ Marathon & 5K in Leesburg. Packet Pickup and In- person Registration available Friday, 4/17 at the =PR= RESTON Store from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM and Saturday, 4/18 at the =PR= ASHBURN Store from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM).

- Sunday, 4/26 @ 8:00 AM: The Ashburn Village 10K, 5K, and 1-Mile Fun Run in Ashburn.

- Sunday, 4/26 @ 9:00 AM: Strides for Success 5K & 1K Fun Run/Walk in Fairfax.

Get details about all of these events

A young bike rider was severely injured when his front tire came off his bicycle when the quick release hub came undone. The cyclist may have a “product liability claim” against the manufacturer, seller and/or supplier. Product liability cases are a sub-set of negligence cases. There are special rules for product injury cases. For example, in the bicycle quick release hub crash, the injured biker would have to prove that he had not modified the components after he purchased them, as that would destroy his ability to prove “causation.”

The defense lawyers for the bicycle component makers may attempt to allege product misuse, alteration or improper installation in order to avoid liability for the injured athlete’s serious and permanent injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured to a defective bicycle, bike component or other sports product, contact the ABRAMS LANDAU team (703-796-9555 or Frontdesk@LandauLawShop.com) at once. There are strict time limits for these types of sports product claims in every state, so act now.

First of all, my knees are fine. Secondly, I do not run every day, and when I do, if it’s not a race and not in the pool (see 2/22/09 post on deep water running), I do so on grass, trail, turf, sand or other soft surface. Thirdly, I try to maintain a healthy diet, with supplements for strong bones, joints and connective tissues. Lastly, there is now medical evidence that running does not cause arthritis. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published a study on Long Distance Running and Knee Osteoarthritis. The investigators conclusion ?

“Long-distance running among healthy older individuals was not associated with accelerated radiographic OsteoArthritis.”

‘Nuf said.

Practicing what he preaches, Triathlon Trial lawyer Doug Landau hops in the pool and runs in the deep water.  The Athletes Lawyer is shown here at the Fairfax County Parks Providence Community Center Pool before a recent successful trial.  This helps move byproducts of intense bouts of exercise out of sore muscles without impact or danger of additional sports injury.  Furthermore, because the water temperature is lower than 98.6 F, the cooling effect also helps reduce inflammation and swelling.  Lastly, the hydrostatic pressure also aids in recovery and retards swelling.

The Herndon Reston area sports injury lawyer was prescribed a full flotation vest by his foot surgeon after breaking his ankle while playing tennis.  Dr. Arnold Landsman, whom Landau had met through a Mount Vernon Sports Medicine Clinic, was foresighted enough to realize that in order to speed up Landau’s recovery and preserve his endurance, a means of non-impact, aerobic training would be optimal for both physical and mental fitness.  If you have sustained a fracture to a weight-bearing structure like an ankle, foot, leg, hip, lower back or pelvis, ask your doctor if water running, hydrotherapy or light aquatic exercise would be helpful in your recovery.