Landau Injury Law

With 2 Hokies in his household, Ashburn car crash lawyer Doug Landau pays special attention to the quarterly Virginia Tech Magazine. This Fall, it was revealed that the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted studies of driver distraction while using cell phones and text messaging. I have previously written about the increased dangers to Loudoun Fairfax and Leesburg drivers, bikers and pedestrians presented by “distracted drivers.”  Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have concluded, with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported

The institute used cameras to continuously observe light-vehicle drivers and truckers for more than 6 million miles. It found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about six times in cars and trucks, the study found.

If you or someone you know has been injured by a “distracted driver” or motorist who was texting or programming their cell or mobile phone, please contact ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. or give us a call at 703-796-9555.

Jurors heard arguments in a lawsuit over an Ohio amusement park roller coaster that has been blamed for dozens of injuries, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. In the lawsuit, Jennifer Wright claims structural problems with the Son of Beast roller coaster caused injuries to her hip that will require several surgeries throughout her life. Kings Island officials don’t deny that a structural problem with the Son of Beast rollercoaster in July 2006 caused 28 riders to get hurt.

Attorneys for the amusement park contend the Wright’s injury was caused by an unrelated fall in 2008.  Attorneys for Kings Island and the patron injured on the Son of Beast in reached a settlement today prior to the punitive damage phase of the trial. The settlement is confidential, but is in excess of the jury award of $76,364 according to news reports.

A jury, after three days of testimony, awarded the injured plaintiff $56,000 for pain and suffering and $20,364 for medical bills she incurred as a result of the accident that sent her and 26 others to the hospital on July 9, 2006.  The jury deliberated for just about five hours before delivering their 7 to 1 verdict.

During closing statements, Kings Island’s attorney said while the amusement park admitted liability, the injured rider only deserved $8,267 for medical bills. He called the remainder of the estimated $27,000 she has incurred on several medical tests “litigation tests.”  Defense counsel also asked the jury to only award $12,000 for pain and suffering.

A tearful plaintiff Wright said she felt like Erin Brockovich after the trial.  “It wasn’t just a minute of pain on the ride,” she said. “It’s been three years of agony.”

While I have often thanked clients for letting me represent them in catastrophic injury cases and for letting me learn things I never knew before, I want to take a moment to thank my clients and their families for something else. In the decades since ABRAMS LANDAU opened its doors, clients and their families have respected my privacy and that of my family. Unlike other injury lawyers who advertise and have unlisted phone numbers, I have never had an unlisted number nor have I had to spend money on yellow pages, newspaper, radio, television or other such ads. Clients have not called me at home unless there was a true, life threatening emergency.

I believe the clients of ABRAMS LANDAU know how hard we work on their behalf, how our system of afternoon client conference calls works to focus everyone on the important issues in these cases, and why my frequent use of “3-way calls” saves my clients’ valuable time and avoids “telephone tag.” Our unique “open date book” policy has enabled hundreds of clients to see us “in action” and learn how their Hearings and Trials will be conducted. I hope that our clients and their families continue to respect my privacy concerns as I respect theirs. For over 20 years this has been the rule rather than the exception. I thank my clients for their understanding and cooperation, and hope to help them and their families to navigate the oftentimes confusing and complex personal injury, workers compensation and Social Security systems.

In order to conduct depositions, witness interviews and of state trial preparation, Herndon and Reston injury lawyer Doug Landau makes use of his network of friends and colleagues from the American Association for Justice. A member since 1981, Landau has used the facilities of AAJ law firms all over the United States. Recently, in order to get the testimony of an eyewitness to a National Airport vehicle crash, Landau traveled to Florida in order to take the deposition of one of the Defendant’s co-workers, as the witness had been transferred from Reagan National Airport to Miami International.

Doug Landau is shown here with Dean Colson on his right and Lewis “Mike” Eidson, the former ATLA/AAJ President, on his left, at their lovely, state-of-the-art COLSON HICKS offices in Coral Gables, Florida. Doug was sworn into the Florida bar at the senior partner’s home, in front of his father, Norman J. Landau and grandfather, William L. Abrams, friends and other family members. Doug’s University of Miami law school Trial Advocacy and States Attorney’s office partner Ervin Gonzalez is also an award-winning partner in the firm (and a member of multiple state bars like Landau !). Landau returns the favor by making his conference room, computer legal research tools and library available for out-of-town and out-of-state lawyers to use.

Swimmers' lawyer Doug Landau before the start of the swim portion of the Herndon Super Sprint Triathlon held at the Worldgate Sport & Health Club. Landau has won this event 3 times, and this year was top Master, 5th overall at the event that raises money for Taylor Love, a local resident fighting neuroblastoma.

In another report of a swimming pool grate trapping a child, the Chicago Tribune reported that a lawsuit filed was filed by a father on behalf of a child that alleges Union City’s negligence caused his son to become trapped by a swimming pool grate at the bottom of the city swimming pool. As a result of his being caught at the pool bottom, the boy sustained  serious injuries. The boy, who was 13 at the time, had to be rescued by lifeguards and flown to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. According to the suit, faulty maintenance of the grate and improper supervision of the boy led to the accident.

Doug Landau has represented swimmers and other injured athletes and recreational sports participants.  The danger with pools is that in order to save money, some pool operators are not upgrading or maintaining equipment.  New standards with regard to safety grates and pool drains can help to reduce or eliminate this type of danger.  But if these technological advances are not put into operation, then the short-term cost savings can result permanent injury and even death.  If you or someone you care for has been injured as the result of negligent pool operation or maintenance, please call us at 703-796-9555 or e-mail.