TheAthletesLawyer

Remember “Sticks and Stones” ?  Sometimes injuries to children caused by other children can be resolved through settlement according to child head injury lawyer Doug Landau of Herndon’s ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd.  Recently the Landau Law Shop received word that a 7 year old boy who was injured after a friend threw a rock and hit him in the eye was able to settle his case with the rock thrower’s insurance company.   The Virginia personal injury case settled with defendant’s homeowner’s insurance company for  the limits of their policy.

The plaintiff lived in Henrico County, near Richmond, Virginia.  One afternoon, the plaintiff was playing with friends close to his home when he was hit in the eye by a rock thrown by the 13 year old defendant.  The injured plaintiff alleged he sustained a fracture of his left orbit and a concussion as a result Read the rest of this entry »

Landau gets a prize at Broadlands, but no PR

Thinking he had ripped a new PR at today’s Sprint Triathlon, Broadlands bike injury lawyer Doug Landau went through the first loop in 15 minutes and cruised into the transition area at almost exactly 30 minutes.  However, the course was slightly shorter than the advertised 12 miles, so instead of 24 MPH average bike speed, the Herndon and Loudoun lawyer cycled 22.8 MPH.  Nevertheless, the Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax bike crash injury lawyer finished in the top 10 out of some 270 multipart racers.  Starting in the 60th position, Landau’s goggles failed immediately during the well run 400 Meter outdoor pool swim.  The triathletes divided into “odds” and “evens” and started every 15 seconds according to their swim seed time.  Landau predicted 7:40 and managed 8:08.  The distance was a 400 meter “snake swim.”  In other words, swimmers moved into the next lane after each lap.  So, for those who swim in 25 yard pools, this was akin to almost 19 lengths.

College roommates team up to "tri" the Broadlands Sprint Triathlon in Loudoun County, Virginia

The Infinitive Broadlands Sprint Triathlon ends with a 5k run.  In the August running of the “Dog Days of Summer” triathlon along the same course, no one broke 20 minutes.  The run is an out & back through Broadlands trails, tunnels and sidewalks. There were water aid stations that caused Landau’s Newton racing flats to lose their sockliner !  The thin “floor” of the shoes quickly turned into “sponges,’ soaking up sweat and water thrown on his head.  But, using clear iodine and running barefoot helped the hardened triathlete – trial lawyer so that he had no blisters after the race.  In fact, Landau went for a swim to “cool down” after the race and cheering on other finishers, including Alexandria General District Court Judge !  “Oyez, Oyez, Order on the Course !”

Doug Landau checking out the transition area at the Broadlands Triathlon in Loudoun County, Virginia

Tomorrow is the Infinitive Sprint Triathlon in Loudoun County, Virginia.  This triathlon, which starts at Broadlands Outdoor Pool off of Village Drive in Broadlands Virginia with a pool swim, then heads out to Claiborne Parkway for the bike and on the Broadlands trails for the run. This is a great first timers event and a fun challenging course for those with experience.  Bike injury lawyer Doug Landau has done other races managed by Tri Performance at South Riding, Worldgate, Herndon and Loudoun County, and Brian and Alissa Crow do a marvelous job of creating and pulling off fun, safe fitness events.

Could this be the "Crow-mobile" for Coach Crow ?

Usually triathletes and endurance athletes take a day or two off before a competition.  Many long distance athletes “taper” before “the big event.”  However, for races under 90 minutes, triathlon trial lawyer Doug Landau will often train right up to and even after the race.  Swimming today helps “flush out” the waste byproducts from a hard week of work and training, and swimming after the race will reduce the post-competition soreness that often hinders older athletes’ resumption of training.  As an award-winning masters triathlete and road runner, Landau is careful not to “overdo it” in the days leading up to a race.  But, a little non- impact exercise the day before a short sprint race should not impair performance  or recuperation or lead to excessive post-race soreness.

TriPerformance Coach Crow at the Inifinitive Broadlands Triathlon packet pick up & bike safety inspection

Race Director and TriPerformance Coach Brian Crow runs a smooth race, which starts with a well-staffed pre race packet pick up.  Pre-Race Packet pick up, bicycle and helmet safety checks, and course tours and pre-race meetings all help triathletes and bikers avoid injury and crashes.  Broadlands, South Riding and Warrenton Sprint Triathlon prizewinner and cyclist Doug Landau of the ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. law firm in Herndon Virginia notes that there is a clear advantage to knowing the course.  “I can ride faster AND more safely on a course where I know the turns, hills, road conditions and transition area.  In over 25 years of multi-sport racing, I have seen too many cyclists and triathletes get hurt when they did not know when to turn, shift gears or slow down.”

A bike crash and still 3rd place overall !

[N.B. In the Broadlands Sprint Triathlon, a 16-year-old crashed, but managed to finish in 3rd place (see photo, left); another racer did an extra lap on the 2 loop course; and, another cyclist went off the course and may have received a penalty.]

Sunday’s race raises funds for the Infinitive Foundation, which was established to support programs focused on health and enhancing family life. Proceeds from the Infinitive Race Series will support local and US Military families. Infinitive Infinitive is a Northern Virginia based management consultancy that delivers Change Engineering expertise. Click for more information about Infinitive.

W&OD Trail patrol member visits Thursday Farmers Market in Herndon, just down the street from the Landau Law Shop

While visiting the Herndon Thursday morning Farmers Market down the street from our buildings, I spotted a cyclist in a yellow “Trail Patrol” outfit.  While I and others from the Landau Law Shop had helped to clean the trail and volunteered as course marshals for running and bicycling events on this wonderful path, I did not know that there were official “Trail Patrol” members, as well as the Herndon police, on 2 wheels !

Neal was kind enough to share with me “W&OD Trail Rules and Guidelines” on cards in English and Spanish, so that I could help educate Trail users and continue to promote rider, runner, skater, cross country skier, roller blader, skate boarder and walker safety on this Northern Virginia Regional Park path.  Because we represent injured athletes, victims of car crashes, disabled cyclists and battered bikers, at ABRAMS LANDAU we see the devastation unsafe driving and cycling can cause.  Following up last week’s “ringing the bell for safety,” I intend to have these cards at the Reston Bike Club ride sign up table tonight !   In addition to Trail clean up and sponsorship, the Friends of the W&OD have programs and personnel serving Northern Virginia.  You can reach the W&OD Trail office at WOD@NVRPA.org or (703-729-0596)

Athletes and those in the fitness industry have known for years that the morbidly obese are at greater risk for all sorts of diseases and spine disorders.  But now research has found that obese people more at risk for acute upper body injury in car crashes.  Scientific data demonstrates increased risk of injury in motor vehicle accidents among overweight and obese Americans, especially among males according to the Journal of Public Medicine.  This study should also provide further incentive for overweight and obese Americans to reduce their weight, as much as realistically possible.

Little research had previously been conducted as to obesity and the risk of injury after a motor vehicle accident, especially in relation to gender.  However, since obese women tend to have more fat in the lower body and obese men in the upper body, it was reasonable to speculate that there would be differences in their injuries after a car crash.  The scientists studied data from the Crashworthiness Data System, a part of the National Automotive Sampling System. They included thousands of passenger car or truck drivers, at least 18 years old, involved in frontal collision accidents from 2001 to 2005.

The scientists also ran computer simulations of frontal collision accidents of motor vehicles.  This way they could experimentally adjust the body mass index of a simulated person, and observe the resultant injuries after an accident.  What causes these differences in gender and injurity severity? The scientists speculate that since obese males tend to have more fat in the upper body, an abrupt change in velocity may distribute more force to these body regions in an accident.  The ultimate observation was that obese men are generally at greater risk of injury after a motor vehicle accident than other men or even obese women. This information should assist motor vehicle manufacturers in designing more appropriate safety restraints.

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,

This was the crux of a notice Loudoun, Fairfax and Leesburg brain injury lawyer Doug Landau received in Charlottesville while preparing for the appeal of a brain injury case.

The Stroke Association wants people to know that strokes are the #3 killer in this country, yet many people don’t even know what they are. They don’t know that more of the brain can be saved if a stroke is detected and treatment is received immediately. Strokes begin when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts. Blow flow is cut off. Tissue is starved for oxygen, and parts of the brain die. If not treated quickly, abilities and productive life can be lost. Learn to spot the warning signs of a stroke or call 1-888-4-STROKE, and act quickly. Your brain is your most prized possession. Guard it with your life.

While riding his bicycle eastbound on Clarendon Boulevard, just past the intersection with Edgewood Street, another innocent biker was struck by a careless motorist today.  The cyclist was in the designated bicycle lane, as was the case with our client who was injured by a taxi turning into the Starbucks. See post.

In the area of this bike crash there are two lanes of eastbound traffic, then the bike lane, then a parking lane to the right. The parking lane was filled with parked cars so the cyclist was blocked to the right, and traffic was moving on the left. Suddenly, and without any warning, the BMW swerved from the traffic lane, across the bike lane, trying to get into a set of two open parking spots (So as to drive through the rear of the two and park in the forward one, without having to back up into a spot).

The BMW cut the biker off and flipped the cyclist over his handlebars.  Striking the cement, the cyclist had injuries to his face, hands, elbows and leg.  Eye witnesses immediately called the police and an ambulance.  The BMW driver was ticketed at the scene, but as many drivers well know, this does not mean that he will be found guilty, convicted or made to pay any restitution.  The biker has lacerations on his face, pain and difficulty seeing.  In addition, his bicycle sustained damage that will form the basis of a property damage claim.  Everyone at ABRAMS LANDAU wishes the innocent cyclist a speedy recovery.  We hope that he is able to get back “in the saddle” soon and resume his enjoyable cycling.  If you, or someone you know, has been injured while riding their bike, please call us or e-mail us at once.  Experienced bicycle crash lawyer Dog Landau notes that “after the Traffic Court trials, it is very hard to properly investigate and prepare these claims for successful resolution.”

When a friend showed up at the offices of ABRAMS LANDAU after an adult ice hockey match with a fractured orbit and impressive shiner, Ashburn and Reston sports injury lawyer Doug Landau looked into the injury, frequency and steps to prevent such head and facial trauma.

Orbital blowout fractures are cracks or breaks in the facial bones surrounding the “socket” that houses the eyeball. Orbital fractures of the facial ones surrounding the eye can result from such blunt trauma as getting hit by an ice hockey stick, puck or opponent’s elbow. Blows to the face and head can result in concussion, loss of consciousness and orbital fractures and eye injury. Wearing face masks has dramatically reduced the risk of eye injuries, including orbital lacerations and facial fractures. In players wearing partial or no protection, eye trauma resulting from a stick, puck, or elbow can cause hyphema, orbit fracture, retinal detachment, or globe rupture. According to The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine, no blinding eye injury has ever been reported in a hockey player wearing full facial protection.

Total head and face protection is essential for any collision sport. In ice hockey, the risk of eye injury is not so much from collision as from a flying puck. The use of face masks in amateur ice hockey in Canada led to a 66 percent reduction in eye injuries, as reported in the Textbook of Orthpaedics, Trauma & Sports Medicine

Bottom line: players should wear head and face protection in ice hockey games and practices in order to prevent eye, face and head injury.