The Athlete's Lawyer

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.

What’s up with all the bottles ? Why does Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau go to races, spin classes and the Herndon High School track with a cooler bag full of water bottles ? Is there some super secret potion inside ?

For an intense workout or race, the herndon Reston area injury and disability lawyer does indeed pack water, as well as an electrolyte rich solution to drink during exercise to prevent cramping, dehydration and “bonking.” However, as important are the bottles prepared in advance for the post-workout recovery. Landau has found that his muscle soreness is reduced and his recovery is hastened by having a sports drink with protein within 20 minutes of finishing his race or workout. There is an excellent article by highly regarded nutritionist Nancy Clark in the October, 2008 issue of the Running Journal, “Protein and Runners” which talks about the science of this “recovery window.”

Clark writes in another piece on “underperforming athletes“:

Recovering with both carbs + protein

Recovery foods should offer a foundation of carbs with protein as the accompaniment. A reasonable target is Read the rest of this entry »

The mayor of Washington, D.C. beat me. Badly. At both the Reston Duathlon and the D.C. Nations Triathlon, he whupped the Triathlon Trial Lawyer good. So did his brother. I do not care that they grew up with parents who operate a FleetFeet sports and running shoe store. I should be able to take him in a triathlon or other multisport race. So I was keen to see his “crib” where he works out.

The CycleLife in Georgetown is an amazing club/gym/bike shop/health food bar.  Toussaint McCrae and his staff have a wonderful location, state of the art facilities and a great attitude. The upstairs strength training and aerobic exercise areas are immaculate and top of the line. If I still worked for the Association of Trial lawyers of America (now “American Association for Justice”) in Georgetown, I would be working out at CycleLife all the time. If you live or work nearby, check it out.

The Annual “Bench & Bar” in Alexandria is the one time when lawyers like injury and disability lawyer Doug Landau get to ask questions of the Circuit Court and other judges with impunity. The Alexandria Bar Association bravely puts on this event, which includes questions being asked anonymously ! However, Doug Landau has run across another impressive “Bench & Bar” on the other side of the Potomac.

CycleLife in Georgetown has a healthy food bar on the ground floor of their 32nd and “K” Street facility from which you can see their mechanics work bench. In other words, you can be sipping a protein smoothie while watching the mechanics fix, tune up or outfit your bicycle. CycleLife’s state-of-the-art facility is unlike any other bike shop I have ever seen. In addition to sales, service and food, there are spin classes, a full gym, large flat screen televisions and aerobic exercise equipment looking out over the jogging train and Potomac River. Next time I’m in Georgetown, I’m definitely heading over to get in a workout, post-exercise shake and pick up some bike gear.