Fall from a balcony--accidental or homicidal? Reconstruction by numerical simulation.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biomechanics
• Accident Reconstruction

Background:

• Conflicting witness accounts and subject injuries suggested assault as a cause of a balcony fall.
• Traditional accident reconstruction methods are often limited to motor vehicle incidents.

Observation:

• A PC-Crash multibody pedestrian model was employed to simulate three distinct fall scenarios from a balcony.
• Simulations included being pushed over the rail, falling from a seated position, and falling from a prone position on the rail.

Findings:

• Scenario 1 (pushed over) was ruled out due to inconsistent landing area and minimum velocity.
• Scenario 3 (prone fall) yielded realistic results, aligning with the physical evidence.
• The subject's later account corroborated the findings of the prone fall simulation.

Implications:

• Demonstrates the successful application of multibody simulations in complex, non-traffic fall incidents.
• Highlights the potential of advanced simulation software in forensic investigations beyond vehicular accidents.
• Suggests a new avenue for verifying witness accounts and understanding injury mechanisms in falls.