The Athlete's Lawyer

The Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg Virginia bike crashes remind us to "preview" triathlon and bicycle race courses for strategy AND safety

The cycling crashes during the summer’s triathlon in Spotsylvania remind us of the importance of participants’ “previewing” the course before a race. Putting on a running, cycling or triathlon race requires planning, manpower and money. Yet even the most thorough race committee cannot foresee every potential pitfall or weather pattern. In the Fredericksburg area race, rain had caused some sand to wash out onto the bike course. Several cyclists were caused to crash due to the combination of speed, sand and bike control. The injuries these bikers sustained by wiping out on the pavement were devastating.

One of the cyclists contacted us at ABRAMS LANDAU because the crash caused severe brain injury. However, racers are expected to be familiar with the course, and going out, for the first time, full tilt during a race, is problematic. In sports, participants Read the rest of this entry »

Landau with a new friend and fellow triathlete (and her cracked aero helmet)

Even the best prepared athletes find that their safety and injury prevention equipment is not “race ready.”  It is a terrible feeling to train for months, travel hundreds of miles and to arrive at the race venue only to find that a vital piece of safety gear is broken or missing.  Doug Landau has had goggles break, wetsuits rip and bicycles flat at major sports competitions, so he knows what it feels like to be physical ready, but unable to compete.

Last Friday, after the Herndon Reston sports injury lawyer picked up his bike and triathlon racing gear from Velocity Pro bicycle shop, he saw that another competitor had a cracked bicycle helmet.  Her damaged “aero” bike helmet would never pass the USAT officials’ inspection and she would not be permitted to race with such unsafe equipment, as her head gear would not protect her skull from impact and potentially severe brain injury.

As he has done before, Landau offered her a helmet, since he often travels with spare safety equipment.  The West Coast Athlete graciously accepted lawyer Landau’s offer, as was back in the race.  The next day her sister returned the Virginia bike safety lawyer’s helmet, and they cheered the other bicycle racers participating in the US National Triathlon Championships.  If you have room in your bike travel case, car, luggage, etc., consider bringing extra safety equipment.  You too may be alb to help out a fellow athlete and prevent unnecessary injury or disability.

Support the work of the Brain Injury Services by running in one of the several races at George Mason University’s beautiful Fairfax Virginia campus September 26th.  Don’t wait any longer.  Sign up today to join us at the 7th Annual Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile. There are only 10 days left and you don’t want to miss out on one of the premier events in Northern Virginia.  This year’s event has a new 10K course, a new 2 mile event and a new “little tykes” fun run.  Click here to register today!

Sunday, September 26, 2010 – Order of events

7:30 AM to 9:00 AM     Pre and Day of Registration Check in
8:30 AM to 9:00 AM     Opening Ceremony
9:00 AM    Kick-off 10K Run/Walk and 2 Mile Run/Walk
9:15 AM    Kick-off Survivor’s Circle of Hope and Kids Fun Run
10:00 AM    Kick-off “Little Tykes” Fun Run
10:45 AM    Award Ceremony

The Brain Injury Awareness Fair will be open from 9 am to noon.  Please join us at the education fair and enjoy the following activities:  Brain Injury Services Education Booth, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Booth, Face Painting by Dee Vinchey and Friends, Dr. Aravich Brain Education, Bike Helmet Giveaway (while supplies last), Coloring Station, Kids Passport, Buy an Angel Booth, Fire Truck, Massage Booth by AKS Massage School, Washington Business Journal Booth and Light Refreshments. ABRAMS LANDAU. Ltd. is once again a sponsor.  For more information please visit www.kitsmiraclemile.org

Drs. Thomas Fleeter and Dennis Sager provide superb experienced medical support at the Reston Triathlon

Long time Reston Doctors Tom Fleeter and Dennis Sager have contributed generously of their time, effort and resources to the Reston Triathlon.  Fleeter could be seen Saturday erecting tents and has previously been out on Lake Audubon with his son as a swim safety volunteer.  Sager, an FAA Inspection doctor, has been a perennial presence under the medical tent at the South Lakes High School finish line area.  Sager grew up and was friends with Mrs. Landau’s family in Richmond, Virginia.  Dr. Sager graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) as an Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineer and is an exceptional internal medicine specialist.  Before athletes lawyer Doug Landau departed the United States to compete on the US Maccabiah Triathlon Team, he had his physical performed by Dr.  Sager.

Dr. Fleeter, of Town Center Orthopedics in Reston, is the team physician for South Lakes High School and served as the medical director of the Women’s World Figure Skating Championship and the Reston Triathlon.  He is also an orthopaedic consultant to the United States Figure Skating Association.  And, as one who not just “talks the talk,” but also “walks the walk,” Fleeter is a strong cyclist who has participated in the Reston Century and knows routes through Northern Virginia that only a true lifetime cyclist would know.  Dr. Fleeter and his Town Center Orthopedic partners have operated on and helped a number of ABRAMS LANDAU clients who have been injured in motor vehicle crashes, sports and on the job accidents.

Doug Landau and the other participants in the Reston Triathlon are lucky to have such outstanding, board certified specialists at this local multisport race.  Thank you Dr. Fleeter and Dr. Sager.

Reston Triathlon Age Group Award Winner Doug Landau after changing into warm, dry clothes !

Injured athletes come back and finish strong at the Reston Triathlon.  A team of three ABRAMS LANDAU clients and Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau would have given other teams in the popular Reston multipart event this past weekend a run for their money !  With Henry Tragle, Rob Urbach, Bill Coquelin putting in solid efforts, the Herndon Law Shop‘s clients demonstrated that hard work, perseverance and pre-accident conditioning can help an athlete recover from broken bones, lacerations and other car crash injuries.  With three age group awards and several top 20 finishes, these clients support sports injury lawyer Doug Landau’s assertions that endurance athletes can achieve good recovery from car accidents, bike crashes and disabling sports injuries.  The staff at the ABRAMS LANDAU is proud of these clients’ accomplishments, as well as those clients who continue to participate in non-competitive events such as bicycle centuries, fun runs and charity walks.

Looking for his triathlon race number and singlet, trial lawyer Doug Landau loses precious time in transition

Having no race number can cause an athlete’s disqualification.  Doug Landau had carefully pinned his race number to his singlet the night before, and had brought it to Lake Audubon to put on after the Reston Triathlon swim.  However, when he emerged from the water and removed his wetsuit, it was nowhere to be seen.

With his bike number on his shorts, a quick gulp and out Doug Landau goes past volunteer Kevin Baldwin to run down the competition at the 2010 Reston Triathlon

Since the numbers on his arms, legs, helmet and bike and the computer chip on his ankle would suffice for the next hour, Landau hoped that his shirt and number was inadvertently left at the second transition, when he got off the bike and began the 10 km  run at South Lakes High School.  When he dashed into the transition area, he was dismayed to see no shirt and no number.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”  So the saying goes.  Looking around his transition spot, the injured athletes’ lawyer had an idea.  Landau Read the rest of this entry »

Bike crash injury lawyer and Race Volunteer Doug Landau registering one of the Fairfax County Police Officers participating in the 2010 Reston Triathlon

The victim of the bike crash Sunday at Ridge Heights Road near the Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High School was released from the INOVA Fairfax Hospital this afternoon.  The triathlete sustained multiple injuries in the incident described in a prior post when a car came from a side street during the 26th annual Reston Triathlon.

The experienced multi-sport athlete was grateful for those who came to his immediate aid and for the speed with which the Fairfax County Police, Fire and Ambulance were on the scene.  Excellent training by Fairfax first responders and law enforcement enabled the injured South Riding athlete to be taken to the emergency room quickly.

Doug Landau exiting the Reston Triathlon transition area (note that he is not yet in his biking shoes !)

Ask Triathlon Trial Lawyer Dog Landau which part of the triathlon is his best, and he’ll probably tell you, “Tranisitions !”  While triathlon is made up of three sports – swimming, biking and running, lawyer Landau views transitions as important elements to his overall race strategy and success.  What you eat, drink and change into in the transition areas can influence the rest of the race.  Transitions are the part of the race you can plan, create options and gain time on your competition while they are standing still !

At some venues, Landau has Read the rest of this entry »

Fire and rescue vehicles came to the aid of an injured bicyclist who was involved in a crash with a motor vehicle during this morning’s Reston Triathlon.  As the participants turn left on South Lakes to pedal up Ridge Heights Road toward Langston Hughes Middle School to get to the transition area at South Lakes and finish the bike portion of the race they were confronted by the sight none of like to see – a fallen athlete.  In this instance, a motorist apparently pulled out into the Ridge Heights Road as a cyclist was coming up toward the schools.

Allen Delaney of Commonwealh Orthopedics and Doug Landau during a picnic fundraiser for a fellow triathlete

The cyclist and the car collided.  According to an FABB post, the biker was unconscious and, after lying immobile in the road, was taken away by ambulance.

Dr. Allen Delaney of Commonwealth Orthopedics, along with his wife and physical therapist Mary Delaney, was a spectator at today’s triathlon.  According to athletes who had finished the race, the good doctor was at the cyclist’s side, lying with him in the street until emergency vehicles arrived.  Delaney, a distinguished endurance and multisport athlete himself, returned to the finish area after the athlete (who later regained consciousness) was taken from the scene, in order to cheer on other athletes he advises and trains as a coach with RehabtoRacing.  Everyone associated with the Reston Triathlon hopes the injured bicyclist recovers quickly.

Reston Triathlon volunteers

With drivers licenses, passports and USAT cards in hand, triathletes lined up at Reston’s South Lakes High School to check in for the 26th Annual Reston Triathlon.  While he is racing Sunday, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau once again served as a volunteer, checking registrants in, answering questions of new multisport athletes, giving a tour of the transition area, marking and clearing the run course of debris.  Having competed in this perennially sold out Northern Virginia triathlon over a dozen times, Landau knows many of the volunteers, spectators and participants.  Even when he is not going to swim in Lake Audubon, ride on Glade Avenue and run on the Reston Association trails, Landau has volunteered at registration.

"May we please see some ID ?"

The pre-race safety meetings, course reviews, bike helmet inspections, reunions and mini expo make for a festive afternoon.  There are husband and wife, father-son and other family relations participating side by side.  This almost Olympic Distance Triathlon is also relatively spectator friendly because of the 3-loop bike course and finish in the South Lakes High School stadium with a live rock band (this year, the “Sock Monkeys”).  Click here to be a volunteer