KANSAS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT REPORT CODING MANUAL

therefore, the best two pictures of a damaged vehicle are those that show opposite corners, each
photo showing one side and one end. Circumstances may be such that it is impossible to get such
pictures, but try to approximate such views as well as possible.
Oblique or corner photographs like those recommended for the best one or two photographs
usually leave much to be desired for technical reconstruction purposes. For example, from an
oblique picture it may be difficult to judge how far a vehicle part, such as a wheel or headlamp, was
pushed straight back and how much to the right or left. This is important; four damage pictures of
a vehicle are usually needed for technical purposes. Each shows the entire vehicle from one side
or end. Make these pictures on the centerline of the vehicle facing directly toward it. Damage to
the vehicle often makes it difficult to decide just where the centerline is. Align your camera by
undamaged parts of the vehicle. For example, if the front end has been forced to the right, do not
take the picture looking directly toward the offset front end, but rather on a line that passes down
the left side.
The center of the windshield and the rear window if in their normal position. For side views, make
the center doorposts on each side coincide so that the one on the rear side covers that on the far
side.
View obstructions should be photographed under two conditions: (1) the driver claims or suggests
that his view was obstructed by something on the road; and/or (2) you believe that this may have
been the case. Much time can be avoided in court, if photographs are produced which allow
others to judge for themselves the nature of the view obstruction.
If there are vertical view obstructions such as crests or hills, have a person or a car stationed at
known and recorded distances beyond the crest to show how much or how little they could have
seen. If there are horizontal view obstructions on curves, a sequence of pictures with a wide-angle
lens will show them adequately. For view obstructions at junctions or railroads crossings, an
extremely wide-angle lens would be necessary to show as much to the side as the human eye can
perceive. Such a lens usually gives distorted perspective, so if there is a view obstruction
probable, make approach pictures at 50-ft. intervals, but in addition, one straight ahead down the
road at each location. Also, make one at a 45-degree angle to the side in the direction at which
the hazard was located.
Try to make view obstruction pictures under as nearly as possible the same conditions as existed
at the time of the traffic crash. For example, if trees and shrubs were bare of leaves at the time of
the traffic crash, try to make the picture when they are that way; and if cars were parked at a
junction when the traffic crash occurred, make the picture with cars parked in as nearly the same
way as possible.
Photography documentation provided by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
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