Forensic Biomechanics

What is Biomechanics?

Human biomechanics is the study of human motion. Biomechanics uses the principles of physics to describe and measure motion.

Forensic Biomechanics

“Forensic biomechanics applies biomechanical knowledge to answer certain questions of civil and criminal law.” American Laboratory, April 2005, Vol 37, Number 8.

Forensic biomechanics is an emerging area of biomechanics, with the specialised publications such as; Forensic Biomechanics (2008) Hannon & Knapp, Accidental Injury- Biomechanics and Prevention (2002) Nahum & Melvin and Trauma Biomechanics- Introduction to Accidental Injury (2004) Schmitt, providing a base of understanding into the field.

Sample Forensic Biomechanics Questions
in a Criminal Law Setting

• Was an individual struck by another or did the strike miss?
• How many times was the individual struck?
• What was the striking or impacting object used to cause injury?
• Where was the point of contact?
• How was the victim standing or positioned when struck?
• How was the accused standing or positioned when striking?
• Was the victim conscious at the time?
• What was the likely order of the victim's injuries?
• Was it self-defence?
• Was the accused physically capable of striking with                           force or co-ordination?