How can you use lividity for time of death?

Lividity, or postmortem hypostasis, refers to the pooling of blood in the dependent areas of the body after death due to gravity. By examining the distribution and intensity of lividity, forensic experts can estimate the time of death, as it typically begins 20 minutes to 3 hours after death and becomes fixed after about 6-12 hours. The pattern and color can also indicate whether the body was moved after death. However, factors such as temperature and position of the body can influence lividity, necessitating careful analysis.