Five Things Every Criminal Attorney Should Know About Bruises

Courtesy of Godoy Medical Forensics
Dating Bruises

Bruises cannot be dated by color. If yellow can be identified, one can determine that the bruise is at least 18 hours old. All other colors can be observed from the first minute until the bruise heals. However, what you call “yellow,” I may call “brown,” so this is a very precarious area to base an opinion on. All other colors can be observed from the first appearance until the bruise heals.

111-97-f1

Raccoon’s Eyes

Bilateral black eyes. Can be a result of a skull fracture at the back of the head and completely absent of any facial trauma. Yes, you read that correctly. The only injury may be a skull fracture to the back of the head.

Battle’s Sign

Bruising behind one or both ears. Also may be a result of a skull fracture to the back of the head.

Alcohol

Alcohol has mild blood thinning effects, so it will cause easier bruising and bleeding. This is true of a chronic alcoholic, even if they are not intoxicated in the moment, or of someone who is intoxicated at the time of the event.

battle's sign

Patterned Bruises

Bruises may present as a patterns (i.e. handprints, belt buckles, etc.). The size and general characteristics of the object will match the size and general characteristics of the bruise. The bruise may be an inverse pattern. For example, a cylindrical object, such as a bat leaves bruises that appear as parallel tracks and the size of the object is represented in the area of “sparing” (no bruise) in between the tracks (see image to the right).

Don’t miss the Godoy Medical Forensics newsletter! Topics covered are:

Assault / Trauma
DUI / General Medical
Child & Elder Abuse / Neglect
Mental Health / Toxicology
Sign up here.