Injuries

A forensic medical assessment of an injury can examine, among other matters, the mechanism and approximate timing of its occurrence, whether one or more impacts may have been involved, and whether it is consistent with the reported events. I assess the nature, location, extent and documented course of healing alongside the medical records and other information available in the case.

A forensic medical opinion may be required where the cause, mechanism, healing period or long-term consequences of an injury are disputed, or where it must be established whether the injuries could have been caused by a fall, a blow, a kick, a blunt object or another external force.

What questions can a forensic medical assessment answer?

Below I summarise the most common questions that may arise in a forensic medical assessment in this field.

Could the injury have been caused in the manner described?

This is one of the most common questions in forensic medical assessments. The nature, location, extent and documented course of healing, together with the medical records, can be used to assess whether they are consistent with the reported event or whether another injury mechanism is more likely.

Can it be established when the injury occurred?

In some cases, within limits. The documented appearance and healing of bruises, abrasions, wounds and fractures may permit a broad estimate of the time of injury. The precision of the answer always depends on the nature of the injury and the documentation available.

Can it be determined whether the injury resulted from an accident or an assault?

A forensic medical expert does not decide whether a criminal offence occurred, but assesses whether the injuries are consistent with the reported sequence of events. Based on their nature, number and location, as well as the medical records, the findings may favour one proposed mechanism over another.

Could a single blow have caused such an injury?

This is a common question in criminal proceedings. The nature of the injuries may often indicate whether they resulted from a single impact or multiple impacts, and whether the proposed force was capable of causing them.

Could the injury have been caused by a fall?

Falls can produce characteristic patterns of injury, depending on the circumstances.

Their location, shape and severity can often be assessed to determine whether they are consistent with injuries expected from a fall or whether another mechanism is more likely.

Could the injury have been caused by punching or kicking?

A forensic medical expert assesses the morphology of the injuries to determine what type of force may have caused them. Some injury patterns may be compatible with a punch, kick or impact from a blunt object, although every case requires individual assessment.

What is the healing period of the injuries?

The healing period is significant in both criminal and compensation cases. The records may support an assessment of the actual healing period and the healing period relevant to criminal proceedings, as well as any lasting impairment.

Has the injury resulted in permanent consequences?

The long-term consequences of injuries are best assessed once the condition has stabilised. A forensic medical assessment can determine whether permanent health impairment, loss of function or disability has developed.

Can the same injuries have more than one interpretation?

Absolute certainty is rare in medicine. The same injuries may have several possible explanations. The expert’s task is to assess the medical plausibility of the proposed mechanisms against the available evidence and explain which facts support that professional conclusion.

What happens if the information in police, prosecution or court records conflicts with the medical documentation?

This occurs more often than many people realise. The forensic medical expert must identify the discrepancies and assess their significance to the case. The opinion distinguishes documented medical findings from reported accounts and evaluates them together.

Can the force applied to the injured person be estimated from the injuries?

Certain conclusions may be drawn, but the severity of an injury alone does not allow a numerical measure of the force applied to be determined. Injury formation is influenced by many factors, including age, body build, health, the object used and other circumstances. These must always be assessed together.