Motherway, Julie A.Julie A.MotherwayDoorly, Mary C.Mary C.DoorlyCurtis, M.M.Curtiset al.2014-09-292014-09-292009 Elsev2009-04Legal Medicinehttp://hdl.handle.net/10197/5945This paper describes a computer simulation method, which is used widely in engineering design and accident investigation reconstructions, which could constitute a valuable forensic tool for investigating cases of head impact injury and skull fracture. This method, the finite element method, relies on knowing the physical properties and strength of biological materials, including cranial bone and neural tissue, and on having evidence of the extent of head injuries in order to deduce causative forces. This method could help forensic pathologists to infer causes of skull fracture and to determine whether probable causes of fracture were accidental or intentional.enThis is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Legal Medicine. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Legal Medicine (11, , (2009)) DOI: http://dx.doi/org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.072Skull fractureAccident investigationComputer simulationFinite element modellingJournal Article11S220S22210.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.0722014-09-26https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ie/