The Athlete's Lawyer

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.

The Annual Goblin Gallop at Fairfax Corner feature a fast field, with Masters road runners showing late season running speed in this popular race.  Linda Foley, Steve Robinson and Neal Reimenschneider  (shown here with Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau).  Reimenschneider was the co-director of the hugely popular Winchester Triathlon and he still puts on and covers a number of events in the Shenandoah Valley area while still racing at a high competitive level.  Both Reimenschneider and Landau copped Age Group Awards.  The Goblin Gallop 5km raises funds for the non-profit John Quadrino Foundation, which helps families fighting childhood cancer.  The Foundation responds to grant requests made by health care professionals on behalf of patients’ families.

"Mr. Incredible" (a.k.a. "Super Lawyer" Doug Landau) and exceptionally fit international W&OD Trail skate tourists in Herndon

International skate tourists rolling over the W&OD Trail from Maryland and D.C. and a “Super Hero” “Super Lawyer” were both spotted in downtown Herndon at Great Harvest. A couple from Denmark have been incredibly skating the famous trail, covering more miles than most cyclists ! And Herndon injury and disability lawyer Doug Landau, who was once again named to the region’s list of “Super Lawyers,” celebrated Halloween as “Mr. Incredible.” Mrs. Landau made his costume (as well as her “Mrs. Incredible” outfit for their daughter’s high school’s annual costume parade !). The staff at ABRAMS LANDAU would not let “the big guy” get out of “uniform,” so he spent the day visiting with clients, much to the delight of their children.

In addition to this being a “causal dress day,” the staff was treated to chair massages by client Dee Schools, who has her own wonderful practice and comes to offices and private homes in order to make people (and “Super heroes”) feel better and return to work reinvigorated and relaxed. We know that everyone at ABRAMS LANDAU enjoyed her skills and spirit.

Bicycle safety and injury advocate Doug Landau making sure a cyclist is properly sitting on his stationary bike at the Herndon Bike to Work festival

Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (“FABB”) met with City of Fairfax Police Chief and Sargent Pam Nevlud to provide comments on the city’s new bicycle safety website. FABB asked that the website put less stress on the dangers of cycling and more on the many positive aspects of cycling. Bicycling is no more dangerous than many other common activities. In fact, the health benefits of cycling outweigh the dangers. FABB discussed the importance of bicycle education at all levels and plans to co-sponsor a bike rodeo with the police in the spring.

FABB members manned a booth near my own during the annual “Bike 2 work” festival in Herndon.  The FABB explained its positions on various issues and is genuinely concerned about  bike commuting, touring and biker safety.  The Bike to Work day also featured free information about cycling safety, biker injury and prevention of bicycle and car crashes.  For other news and articles of interest, visit the FABB blog.

pierre & doug

Opening November 9th HPC Computrainer classes in “downtown” Herndon.

HPC’s Pierre Pelletier and Susan Hefler will be offering the VO2 testing, Bike fitting, Bodywork, and the Computrainer classes. Once HPC (“Hefler Performance Training“) gets up and rolling, they will also offer Time Trial Competition, strength and conditioning classes, and yoga.  They are making the pink bank building next to Great Harvest Bakery  are making the space multi functional.  The address is 783 Station Street, Herndon, and registration is now open at: www.bikereg.com.

For those that know the W & OD bike path, it is right off the bike path after you cross Elden Street. That next crossing is Station Street (heading west) and you would make a right off of the bike path @ Station Street, about one hundred yards from the Landau Law Shop.  The photo was taken today as Herndon bike injury lawyer Doug Landau finally met Pierre as he was walking back from the last Herndon Farmers Market of the year.

Pierre will be doing bodywork and bike fitting, and they will have the spin scan up and running for pedal stroke analysis.  There will also be VO2 testing and the coaching work.  Babes on Bikes classes/ Ladies only have been set up for Monday and Friday @ 11AM. HPC is opening early bird classes for the people who prefer working out as a start to their day.   In the new space they will have between 12-14 Computrainers and as such will many times break classes into 2.

Hefler Performance Coaching (“HPC”) has 2 completely separate systems going. So this should make things much better to accomodate all ability levels. Remember the indoor training is all about training oneself. Ms. Hefler points out, “I know it gets competitive in the classes, but you all really wanna focus on your own goals. I will try and make this happen for as many people as possible, and have different level classes available at most all sessions. Of course if you all want to hammer, we can all go advanced.

Please send me thoughts. We really built this for the athletes’ and as such, ideas are always welcome. We want to make this a sensational training center for ALL.

I look forward to CRANKIN the Tunes!!!!”

Cheers, Susan Hefler
571.212.2895
shcoaching@comcast.net

“The biggest loser” is not a television reality show, but the American health care system.USA today is reporting that costs have doubled in a decade, as a direct result of weight gain in Americans.

“As Congress searches for ways to control health care costs, a new report provides a sizable target: obesity. Americans who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008, double the amount a decade ago, according to a study by government scientists and the non-profit research group RTI International.

Obesity now accounts for 9.1% of all medical spending, up from 6.5% in 1998. Overall, an obese patient has $4,871 in medical bills a year compared with $3,442 for a patient at a healthy weight.”

Can you believe it? Unfortunately these facts are not surprising. Americans are the most obese people in the world, and each year the increase in obesity is horrific… see USA TODAY

But now we know that not only are we hurting our health and shortening our lives, we are also forcing health care costs to skyrocket.

Everyone has his or her own opinion on how to solve the health care crisis. But could it be as simple as choosing an apple over the curly fries? Lets try and find out. Picture courtesy of www.topnews.in/health/

Doug Landau, Beach Sand Sprint winner !

Training barefoot has its advantages. In addition to “toughening” one’s feet, Doug Landau feels that running without fancy, padded sneakers allows athletes to strengthen the small muscles and tendons of the feet and ankles. Some sports scientists even liken Americans’ wearing of shoes from infancy to having their feet “casted,” leading to disuse of these anatomical structures, atrophy and future injury. Many top runners and Olympic medalists started their lives walking (and running) everywhere in bare feet.

After competing in the Playa del Rey Aquathon, Doug Landau did an “encore” and lined up to race in the one mile sand sprint. The Triathlon Trial Lawyer felt confident as to his abilities barefoot and on sand. But, when the race director announced that there would be obstacles that the runners would have to go over and under, and push ups at the end, the Herndon and Reston area sports injury lawyer realized he had his work cut out for him ! While Landau accidently went under the “over” obstacles, he went back and re-did them quickly enough to win the race, to the amusement and enjoyment of his family. Rumors as to Landau’s racing barefoot in several East Coast multi sport events are true, but he only pulls this stunt when the race is on grass, sand or he gives his shoes to another competitor !  Be advised, Lawyer Landau ALWAYS wears shoes to Court.

Swimming in the Pacific at Playa del Rey was LEGAL!

Swimming in the Pacific Ocean is a treat, and TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau got to participate with his family on the West Coast at Playa del Rey, California. Competing in the Aquathon, Landau saw dolphins gliding effortlessly through the waves that buffeted the wetsuit-clad racers. While the swim was tough and Landau’s time was slow, he managed a good run (20:40 for 3 miles) on the flat, hot out-and-back course. Landau was thrilled to cheer on his wife, who also competed in the Swim-Run event, as well as his middle daughter and budding journalist, who ran in the “Playa del Run” 5km and won family bragging rights.  The eldest Landau daughter took pictures and ran all during the charitable beachside events that raised money for the “Heal the Bay” program.

USA Maccabi Triathletes Doug Landau, Rob Urbach and 2009 age group gold medalist, Mark Stuckelman at the Washington DC Dextro Triathlon

Mark Stuckelman, whom I met at my friend and 2005 Maccabi USA Teammate Rob Urbach’s home, was a winner today at the quadrennial Maccabiah Games in Israel. He won the gold medal in his age group and ended up 17th out of 180 overall. He relates, “It was the hardest race I’ve ever done. I was cooked at the finish. It was 102 [degrees] on the run and the course was long. Our team captain collapsed on the run and got taken to the hospital. He’s OK and will be released today. My time was 2:19:40. The Alterman brothers who race ITU [as professional athletes and won in 2005] and are ranked 20th in the world took the top spots, just under 2 hours.” Congratulations to “Stuck” and all the members of the 2009 team !