Landau Injury Law

The Landaus were the couples married over 20 years winners at the race to support Women's Wellness at the Coral Springs Medical Cente, Broward County, Florida

Woman’s wellness is a cause near and dear to Loudoun and Leesburg lawyer Doug Landau.  So he and his bride participated in the 5th Annual Race For Women’s Wellness 5K Run.  It was no accident that Landau, married a quarter of a century, wanted to compete in this South Florida race.  This Valentines Holiday Weekend race had several unusual award categories, including: “Couples married less than 10 years, 10-20 years and over 20 years, as well as “significant others’.”  The Landaus were up for the challenge of the senior couples category in this competitive Broward County Florida event.  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer was amused by the freezing Floridians, who were not used to 40 degree temperatures and blustery winds.  Landau went off with the lead pack, averaging 6:39/mile and managed to finish 8th overall, winning his age group by 10 seconds.  His bride, despite plantar fascitis from a half marathon the prior week, bravely ran strong despite this often debilitating sports injury.  More importantly, the Landaus won the “Husband Wife Team – Married 20+ years” and beat almost all of the other, younger teams, as well.  For results, go to eteamz AccuchipTiming.

Age Group & Couples Division winner Doug Landau faces the "paparazzi" with other top finishers this weekend

His bride, despite plantar fascitis from a half marathon the prior week, resolutely ran despite this often debilitating sports injury.  The trophies from this and Landau’s other successful winter races will likely end up in the parlor at the ABRAMS LANDAU Law Shop building in Herndon, Virginia, as Mrs. Landau does not want any more of the Triathlon Trial Lawyer’s accolades cluttering up the house !

ABRAMS LANDAU received its first shipment of Doug Landau’s new book, “Ten Mistakes That Can Derail Your Bicycle Injury Case.”  Drawing upon over 25 years’ experience helping injured cyclists, disabled riders and their families, Herndon and Reston bike crash lawyer Landau compiled a book that cyclists have been requesting online since this summer’s court cases in Loudoun County.

In addition to common sense tips and actual cases, Landau provides extensive forms, explanations and details that many so-called personal injury lawyers neglect to share with their clients.  The easy to read book talks about defective bicycle products, car crashes, cyclists attacked by dogs and head injuries.  There are pictures of cracked helmets from Landau’s head and brain injury cases, as well as discussion of the investigation of these sports injury cases.  The Landau Law Shop is regularly contacted by injured bikers, and this new book is also intended to be a helpful resource for those cases and injured cyclists that we cannot help.  If you or someone you know would like to get a copy, please e-mail ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. or call (703)796-9555.

W&OD Trail in Herndon, Virginia

Two trucks and a motorcycle narrowly missed hitting cyclists near the Herndon Post Office and lumber yard because the drivers were distracted by the construction vehicles and signs.  While the speed limit is only 25 mph in the vicinity of the 7-11 and the W&OD Trail, cars and trucks coming from Eldon Street are confronted with signs on both sides of the street, a new light configuration and heavy construction equipment at the lumber yard building project.  Small bikes and riders coming from Reston are not easily seen as they head West.  And, with the noise, dust and confusion, motorists are surprised when a cyclist comes across their path.  If you are riding or training on your bike in the area of the W&OD Trail, be careful.  Distracted cars, trucks and motorcyclists are confronted by new traffic patterns, vehicles turning into the Post Office and out of the 7-11 gas station and bank.  It is a busy and dangerous area next to the trail used by bikers, joggers, walkers, roller bladers and skate boarders.  If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident on or near the W&OD Trail, e-mail or call ABRAMS LANDAU (703-796-9555) today.

Trial Lawyers Doug Landau & Greg Harbison after the Richmond races

While anyone who knows Doug Landau knows that this Herndon, Chantilly and Centreville injury lawyer finds races all over the country (and the world) when he travels for cases and to meet clients, there are also other Virginia Trial Lawyers who run, and run well !  At this past weekend’s Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon and HCA 8km (5 miler), a number of Herndon injury lawyer Landau’s VTLA friends were competing.  In the HCA 8km race, Richmond lawyer Dan Lynch posted a strong time as did Virginia Beach’s Kevin Martingayle.  Both TriathlonTrialLawyer Landau and Martingayle finished in the top 100, ad both won age group awards.  In the longer events, Richmond trial lawyer Greg Harbison (shown with Landau after they returned to the VTLA Advanced Workers Compensation program) finished the half marathon.  In what is billed as “America’s friendliest Marathon,” the Allen firm’s Chris Meyer paced other participants in the full SunTrust Richmond marathon.  For full results, go to the Richmond SportsBackers site.

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.

Motorcycles parked across from the Loudoun County Court House in Leesburg, Virginia

A spate of fatal bike crashes has recently been reported just as our law firm gears up for our Federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals arguments in our catastrophic accident case.  Last year, deaths on the highway fell in almost every category except accidents involving motorcycles.  “With the traffic being what it is in this area, inexperienced motorcyclists are particularly likely to get into trouble,” said Capt. Susan Culin, who commands the traffic division of the Fairfax County Police Department.

For the most part, motorcycle riders die for the same reasons that people who are driving vehicles with four wheels die: inexperience, alcohol, miscalculation and inattention to the road. But a motorcycle tends to be less forgiving than a car on all four of those counts.  Motorcyclists, like bicyclists, also are more vulnerable to mistakes by other drivers. And, like pedestrians and bicyclists, they are less visible than cars and sport-utility vehicles.  “There are so many more trucks and SUVs,” said Pete terHorst of the American Motorcyclist Association. “Are you more likely to be killed in a crash with an SUV or with a [Honda] Civic hybrid?”

Motorcycle fatalities fell during the 1970s.  Pressure from the Federal government persuaded all but three states to require helmets. Many states have since rescinded that mandate.  Presently, just 20 states, including Virginia, Maryland and the District require helmets for all motorcycle riders.  Interestingly, three out of four motorcycle fatalities involving another vehicle occur when the other vehicle makes a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle, said Patricia A. Turner, who studies motorcycle accidents for the Texas Transportation Institute.  According to Herndon trial attorney Doug Landau, making a  left turn is one of the more dangerous maneuvers for drivers on the road.  The Loudoun and Fairfax bike and car crash lawyer notes that this is why the the turning vehicle should yield the right of way.   Virginia bike and motorcycle accident lawyer Landau notes that turning cars are also required to pay full time and attention to two-wheeled and four-wheeled traffic in both directions.

Herndon Attorney Defends ‘MS-8’  - Landau wins case for bikers ticketed during multiple sclerosis fundraiser.

Attorney Doug Landau of Herndon-based Abrams Landau succeeded in defending two bicyclists whose cases he had taken for free at a July 7 court hearing. The defendants were two of eight cyclists ticketed for failing to stop at stop signs during a bike ride to raise money for multiple sclerosis on Sunday, June 7 in Lovettsville. 

“It struck me as unjust,” Landau said, noting that the people who were ticketed were part of the charity fund-raiser or were on a concurrent ride with the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club, a regional bike riders’ group. An avid bike rider, Landau has ridden not only as part of multiple sclerosis fund-raisers but also with the Pedalers. “They’re generally older people who are just out for a sunny Sunday afternoon ride,” he said. 

Landau said it was not inappropriate for the Loudoun Sheriff’s Office to respond to complaints earlier in the day about cyclists running stoplights and riding three abreast but that the incidents of actual ticketing he knew of from that day seemed excessive. One of his pro-bono “clients,” he said, made what is known as a “track stand” stop, coming to a stop but not touching his feet to the ground. The other slowed and checked for traffic before continuing, in what is called an “Idaho stop” for its legality in that state. 

FAILURE TO STOP at a stop sign, whether on a bike or in a car, carries a penalty of four points on one’s driver’s license and substantial fines, along with court fees, Landau said, adding, “On the ticket, it doesn’t say that these are for bicycle infractions. 

“If I’m blowing through stoplights at 30 miles per hour with those little ear buds in for an iPod, sure. Take me down,” Landau said. But he said he felt there were substantial differences between bicycles and cars not recognized by state law. 

He didn’t get a call from one of the cyclists until July 3, four days before the court date, but he extended the offer for free litigation to all eight of them. Normally, Landau works on cases of personal injury, workers compensation and federal Social Security disability income. “I don’t go to traffic court unless it’s for one of my kids’ tickets,” he said. 

After he showed prosecutors his clients’ perfect driving records, aerial photos that illustrated the rural area and the distance that the officer would have been from the bikers, and the Idaho stop law, the two sides agreed on a deal that convicted the two cyclists of lacking reflectors, a much lesser infraction. 

FOUR of the others had already pre-paid their fines, while one got his case continued and the other represented himself and lost. 

Since the charges were incurred during a multiple sclerosis fund-raiser, Landau has labeled the ticketed bikers the “MS-8.” “I’m all for the best and highest use of resources, and I want cops going after MS-13, not the MS-8,” he said

Doug Landau explains, “having one law firm handle all of your related cases saves time, effort and money. For example, the medical records prescriptions and bills are relevant to all your injury and disability cases. Once I learn a client’s medical history, I can apply that knowledge to their car crash, dog attack, product liability or slip and fall case, as well as their related on the job injury claim, and also their Federal Social Security Disability claim. We only have to pay for these records ONCE, and we can use one of these cases to help the other.” Coordination of state and Federal benefits is becoming increasingly more complex, and law firms that claim to handle injury cases are settling the motorcycle crash, dog bite or premises liability claim and then failing to properly protect the client on the workers compensation or Social Security claims.  Plus, ABRAMS LANDAU gets calls all the time from distraught injury victims who have a good lawyer, but that lawyer does not handle their related cases, and the legal time limit is about to run against them.

Herndon, Reston and Leesburg injury and disability lawyer Landau’s advice: “Don’t be a dummy and split up your negligence, workers comp and Social Security cases.” Keep them “under one roof” with an experienced law firm that regularly handles permanent injury, lifetime disability and fatal accident claims before the trial courts, compensation boards and Federal Social Security Administrative Law Judges.

The “dummy” ABRAMS LANDAU trial lawyer Landau is pictured with can be found in Lightfoot’s, the Loudoun County restaurant across the street from the Leesburg Court House where many of this InjuryBoard member’s airport injury, car wreck and bicyclists’ crash cases are filed

The MS-8 (Multiple Sclerosis charity ride) case has stirred up talk up and down the East Coast. The NBC news came out to visit Doug Landau at ABRAMS LANDAU and the W&OD Trail in Herndon, Virginia.

Here is the newspaper story, newscast and what happened “behind the scene.”

Abrams Landau, Ltd. was contacted only last week by one of the Defendant bicyclists cited by the Loudoun County Sheriffs for failure to stop. On Friday, July 3^rd I spoke to the first of these bikers. This experienced cyclist advised that the cases were to be heard in Court on Tuesday, July 7th. Agreeing to represent as many bicycle riders who would have me, pro bono (at no charge), I left messages with the other two-wheeled Defendants that I was given contact information for by the Defendant Potomac Peddler ride co-leader. I reviewed the ticket, photographs and other evidence that had been left for me. By this time I had spoken with several other riders who had been charged June 7th, and advised that while my practice is primarily helping injured cyclists, runners and other victims, I would appear on their behalf and help them in the Leesburg Court the next morning.

On Tuesday morning, I met with the bikers, Commonwealths Attorneys, officers and other Loudoun County criminal and traffic defense lawyers. By the time our cases were called, the count was “2 Strikes and 2 Outs.” The court already had prepayment by a cyclist who plead guilty. Strike one. One of the bikers I had called chose to “go it alone.” He valiantly argued his case, and was found guilty, given a fine and court costs of several hundred dollars and FOUR POINTS on his DMV record. He may also face repercussions, depending upon his point balance, when it comes to getting car insurance and umbrella coverage. Strike two. The officer was not at all happy to see me there as counsel for the Defendants. After several hours, a substitute judge came on the bench and I indicated to the prosecutor that we were ready to try the remaining cases. No cyclist had avoided conviction and there had been no stop sign or signal acquittals for motorists either that morning.

I had discussions with three different Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys, debated the merits of our cases, demonstrated our photographic and documentary evidence, my clients “+5″ DMV records and even the use of a “track stand” and Idaho (rolling) stop.

The prosecutor offered to dismiss the failure to stop violation if we would agree to a non-moving equipment charge. There would be no points, major fine or court costs and no appeal. I discussed this with my clients, staff and family members present, and it was decided to accept. This action would not prejudice the other cyclists I spoke with over the holiday weekend who requested continuances or sought to fight the charges another day. Little did I think that our actions in court would stir up so many additional questions, nonetheless a spot on the news.

Interestingly, after I got back from court after representing the “MS-8″ bicyclists at the Loudoun County Courthouse, I was contacted by another cyclist ticketed for “running through a stop.” She is 11. Her mother called from New York. This young girl is in the hospital. Her pelvis is fractured. According to an eyewitness, the driver: saw the child biking; knew this girl was in the area on her bicycle; thought the young bicycle rider was through the intersection when his truck hit the back end of her rear tire. The police arrived, saw the truck crash scene sent for an ambulance for the child who was thrown some distance from the crossing area and then ticketed the child.I have been fortunate enough to win this kind of case for a pedestrian here in Herndon, who was struck by a Police Department Dispatcher on her way to her Police Academy Graduation, and whose co-workers from the police force charged my client with not stopping ! The largest personal injury law firm in Virginia turned the case down and suggested the injured walker call the Landau Law Shop. Loudoun, Fairfax and Leesburg cyclist, walker and runner injury lawyer Doug Landau is shown to the left with his measuring wheel after marking off a pedestrian accident scene.  Our client, a French national, did not drive, but walked or took the Metro everywhere. This elderly gentleman’s shoulder was shattered. We were able to present eyewitness testimony and photographic evidence. Our exhibits demonstrated the fact that the pedestrian was visible at all times; that he was walking slowly; and, that he was walking from curb apron to curb apron, in a straight line, across a street with no crossing lines. The Fairfax County Circuit Court judge found in our favor. However, more important than the judgment in our client’s favor for restitution for his medical bills, time loss, pain, scarring and permanently damaged arm, was the fact that despite the conviction in the District Court for the ticket, he was vindicated in the civil case. Many of our cases involve righting “wrongs” as well as winning reimbursement for what has been taken from our innocent clients.