TheAthletesLawyer

I also learned that the symptoms of an acute head trauma often do not show up until days or even weeks after a car or bike crash.  That is why it is so important to watch a friend or family member who ha been in a car crash or bike accident in the days that follow.  They may not remember hitting their head.  They may not remember a loss of consciousness.  They may have short and/or long term memory loss.  They may develop headaches - perhaps from the initial impact, or from the second impact (i.e., from the airbag’s explosion or “bouncing on the pavement”).  They may not even remember that they had a concussion.

At the Brain Injury seminar in Richmond, I learned that the microscopic injuries to brain cells do not show up very well on diagnostic imaging and are hard to diagnose.  The brain cells inside the skull can “shear” or be torn by the sharp protuberances inside the head that keep the various lobes separated.  If you or someone you know had sustained a head injury, and have continued symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, memory loss, etc., help them to get to a neurological specialist quickly.

Always looking to combine my Cases with nearby “Faces,” “Places” and “Races,” I was lucky enough to participate in the McDonalds Maymont Park Cross Country Festival tonight after a full day of meetings with doctors and lawyers at the VTLA Brain Injury retreat. Teams from all over Virginia ran the very challenging course over the several days of events. There were races and distances for runners of all ages, and the scenic course was hilly, curvy and carpeted where it crossed the service roads, so that runners’ spikes wold not get ruined. Several hundred runners took part in the “Open” event Friday evening, after watching the elementary school races . Having never run in Maymont, I was glad for the chance to see this terrific park. It was also a chance to run on grass (there were no obstacles) and see some of the best high school talent afterwards. Plus, cross country running on a well-marked (and even roped off) course like this is a great change of pace from a steady diet of road races. The Richmond Sports Backers, as always, did a wonderful job, with plenty of excellent volunteers and spectators.

Yesterday’s post concerning professional athletes and traumatic brain injury could not have been more timely as TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau headed to Richmond for the VTLA “by invitation only” Brain Injury meeting. The Hendon Reston area brain injury lawyer went to learn the latest advances in law and medicine for helping victims of head trauma and their families. In addition to doctors and lawyers from around the country, the Brain Injury Association of Virginia was also represented. The BIAV has educational programs, public awareness activities to enhance understanding of brain injury and prevention awareness. BIAV also has a camp for survivors and personal support through local group meetings.

Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau received word that THE FIFTH ANNUAL KIT CALLAHAN’S MIRACLE MILE was this weekend, benefitting BRAIN INJURY SERVICES. This 10K run and fun walk will be held this Sunday, September 28, 2008, 7:30 AM to noon, at the beautiful GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, Fairfax campus.

• There will be 2 courses: The 10K (6.2 miles) USATF Certified course will consist of running/walking around Patriot Circle 3 times.
• For those interested in a shorter run/walk, there will be a “Survivors’ Circle of Hope” course. This course starts at the 10K start line but goes in the opposite direction towards Patriot Circle. The course ends with a left onto Aquia Drive. The Herndon Reston Virginia area brain injury lawyer will participate in the 10K run, which covers some of the same campus as the Victims Rights Run Landau participates in every year.
• However, you can run/walk 1 or 2 miles…the choice is yours! The 10K run will be timed by Pacers, the excellent Alexandria Running store.The beneficiary of this charitable event is Brain Injury Services (”BIS”), Inc.

Since 1989, BIS has helped individuals in Northern Virginia and outlying suburbs. In the past few years, BIS has expanded services to include Fredericksburg and other Counties. Their Case Management Services are provided at no cost. They offer additional services either at no cost or on a sliding scale, including independent living skills training, respite care, specialized day programs and social skills training. At any given time, “BIS” is helping approximately 500 individuals in the region manage the challenges of living with a brain injury. Their mission is to improve the lives of people who are affected by a brain injury through community-based programs, education and advocacy. To learn more visit BRAIN INJURY SERVICES. United Way #8237

Having grown up riding a bike, commuting to school and jobs on 2-wheels and racing in bike road races and time trials, I have seen some of the very best (and worst) of cycling. While most riders observe safety and common sense precautions, other riders and members of the peloton seem to want to increase their chances for crashing, broken bones and brain injury. My “Top 10″ list of things to do if you WANT to crash your bike and break some bones includes:

1. Talk on your cell phone, preferably with one or both hands off Read the rest of this entry »

After a bike crash, concussion or loss of consciousness, many athletes feel that if they do not see blood, they are not injured. However, TheAthletesLawyer Doug Landau has advised several injured cyclists that they need to get checked out by specialists where:

They have continuing headaches,

They have nystagamous (darting eye movements)

Dilated pupils, bruising, black eyes or “Racoon-like” eye bands

Inability to get restful sleep at night, which had not been an issue prior to the bike crash,

Difficulty with memory (long or short term), follow through or other mental tasks.

The TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau notes that this list is by no means exhaustive. This Herndon-Reston area injury trial attorney adds that while most bike helmuts do a great job of absorbing the first impact, and the human skull likewise functions to protect the brain from injury and trauma, there can be injury from the brain impacting the inside of the skull. This injury can be subtle, with intracranial swelling taking time to show the extent of the damage caused by the bicycle crash. Get a referral from your family doctor, internist or general practitioner to someone qualified and experienced with closed head injury, concussions, traumatic brain injury and other neurological symptoms and treatments. Delay can be catastrophic !

The sports injury team at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. has been contacted by several cyclists who have been injured in early season rides by dogs, automobiles and defective bicycles. While fractured arms and legs are indicative of obvious injury, concussions and head trauma require a more sophisticated and subtle approach according to experienced personal injury trial lawyer Doug Landau. There is a common misconception that if there is no blood, there is no injury.  This is simply not true, as will be discussed in tomorrow’s post.

2/16 Alexandria, VA George Washington Birthday Classic 10km., took place on the flat Eisenhower Avenue course by the United States Courthouse where TheAthletesLawyer recently tried a catastrophic brain injury and paralysis case before the same Judge who heard the Mousaui Terrorist case. Benefitting the Alexandria Police Youth Camp, Landau did his warm up INSIDE the AMC Hoffman Center Theater. Starting mid-pack with experienced triathlete and lawyer Charles “Chuck” Corbin, Landau averaged 7:20/mile, finishing in the top quarter of his age group and 144 of 810 in his first race of the new year. www.washingtonbirthday.net

2/23 Prince George Indoor Masters Track Meet, MD (3k, mile) PVTC www.pvtc.org See report under “CASES” as The TriathlonTrialLawyer actually competed, in his Newtons, in a Track Meet, running 11:48 for the 3,000 and 5:57 for the Mile.

2/29 Quaddrenniel Leap Year 3km. Running this “Once Every 4 Years Race” round the Jefferson Memorial tidal basin, in Washington, DC, TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau managed a 12:03 for a 6:28/mile pace uder windy, cold conditions, to finish not quite last.
The DCRRC (703-241-0395) has a FREE noon time 3km. every month at the Roosevelt Memorial Tourmobile stop & Ohio Drive, SW (where many big D.C. races start/finish) on the 3rd Wednesday of the month year round. NO pregistration necessary. For a map of the course, go to: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=489441

3/30 *Homestead, Hot Springs, VA VTLA annual 2 miler, X-C

After a bike crash involving head trauma, loss of consciousness, closed head injury or other neurological signs of damage, many veteran cyclists find it very hard to rest and recuperate.  Missing their daily “endorphin high,” riders, racers, commuters and other cyclists often return to their sports before cleared to do so by their treating doctors.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau often counsels injured cyclists, triathletes and sports enthusiasts after high speed bike crashes, that they may have sustained a closed head injury, concussion, traumatic brain injury, etc., and that intracranial swelling, neurological and other symptoms should not be ignored.  The treatments after such  traumatic accidents need time to be efficacious, and injured triathletes and cyclists need to follow  their health care providers’ instructions.  At Abrams Landau, Ltd. we routinely have to remind our clients that the body heals with time, and it is not a good idea to try to fool (or rush) “Mother Nature.”

Clients coming to ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. have noticed the signs for the “Historic Downtown District.”  Some have even gone to the train depot to visit the museum and see evidence of the LandauLawShop’s existence for over 120 years !  Others have walked around the little town center and taken pictures at the caboose, old Town Hall and the general store after visiting with injury lawyer Doug Landau and the ABRAMS LANDAU trial team.  Some clients and their families have gone to Thursday or Friday evening concerts, the summer morning farmers market and other regularly scheduled and special events on the Town Green or in the square behind the old train stop.  The “Friday Night Live” concerts are especially popular, as food and drink are available for purchase.  Furthermore, Doug Landau notes that the back of the new Municipal Center serve as a sound stage, where people can dance right in front of the band on the grass !   You can bring beach chairs, blankets and a picnic that the whole family can enjoy.  If you are able to do so, look around next time you are in town.  You will see that there is a lot more to Herndon than you might think.