
It is no secret that car accidents are common occurrences within the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. In fact, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were approximately 416,619 car accidents in the State of Missouri from 2020-2022. St. Louis County and St. Louis City ranked as numbers one and three, respectively, in the highest total amount of crashes with the nearby areas of St. Charles County and Jefferson County following closely behind, as numbers four and seven, respectively. These accidents oftentimes involve more than two vehicles. Such multi-vehicle collisions can pose numerous issues for the individuals involved, including the process of determining who is at fault for the accident and which driver’s insurance company is responsible for the damages or injuries sustained. This determination of liability is important in being able to pursue personal injury cases when multiple vehicles are involved.
Determining Who is At Fault
Any time there is a car accident, it is important to determine who is at fault for the collision. In order to accurately determine fault, a thorough investigation of the facts leading up to the car accident is necessary and often proves itself to be essential to filing a successful personal injury claim. The investigation process can include: finding and speaking to witnesses; analyzing any police or accident report prepared; reviewing surveillance videos, photographs, and/or other depictions of the collision or the scene immediately thereafter; and working with an expert witness or accident reconstructionist to investigate the cause of the collision.
Generally, the insurance company for the at fault party or parties – if more than one party is at fault – will be responsible for covering the damages and injuries caused by their insured. As an injured individual, you can be entitled to recovery from the insurers of every party determined to be at fault for the collision. However, the compensation you receive for said injuries will likely be proportionate to each party’s percentage of fault. Determining the at fault percentage can be a complicated and tedious process, as the insurer for each at fault party will likely attempt to minimize the percent at which their insured was responsible for the car accident.
The following two examples depict ways in which multi-vehicle collisions can occur. The first example is a straight forward example, where liability could likely be easily determined. The second example is a bit more complicated, due to the negligence of multiple drivers resulting in the collision. However, whether the car accident is “simple,” such as the straightforward example in Number 1; or complex, such as the complicated example contained in Number 2; having an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney can be essential in ensuring you receive fair and just compensation for your injuries.
Example Number 1:

Traffic is congested on the highway, causing vehicle 1 to slow before ultimately arriving at a complete stop. In response, vehicle 2, traveling directly behind vehicle 1, also slows and comes to a complete stop. Vehicle 3, traveling directly behind vehicle 2 fails to slow or come to a complete stop. As a result, vehicle 3 crashes into vehicle 2 and pushes vehicle 2 into the rear of vehicle 1. In this example, the driver of vehicle 3 will most likely be determined to be at fault for the collision because their actions created the chain of events that caused vehicle 2 to crash into the rear of vehicle 1.
Example Number 2:

Vehicles 1 and 3 are traveling in opposite directions on a roadway. Traffic at this particular roadway is governed by an electronic traffic device or stoplight. Although the stoplight contains left turn signals, left turns are also permitted if the stoplight is green and traffic is clear. Instead of waiting for vehicle 3 to get through the intersection, vehicle 1 attempts to execute a left turn before vehicle 3 enters the intersection. As vehicle 1 jumps out into the intersection, vehicle 2 runs the red light governing their direction of travel. As a result, vehicles 1 and 3 strike vehicle 2 at the same time. The driver of vehicle 2 claims his light turned green before he proceeded into the intersection.
In this particular situation, the insurance companies for all vehicles involved could try to contest liability or dispute the percentage for which their insured is at fault. For example, although the drivers of vehicles 1 and 3 will likely say vehicle 2 is at fault, the insurance company for vehicle 2 could claim they are not liable because of their insured claim that the light was green when they proceeded through the intersection. The insurance company for vehicle 1 could also argue to deny liability in claiming the intersection was clear at the time their insured attempted to turn left. Vehicle 3 could also be accused of sharing in liability for its failure to avoid the collision.
When Multiple Parties are Liable for the Collision
In Missouri, when multiple parties contribute to or are to blame for a car accident, the concept of comparative fault/comparative negligence is used to apportion the percentage of fault for each party to determine the amount an individual is entitled to recover. Comparative negligence is defined as a party’s own negligence that proportionally reduces the damages recoverable from another at fault individual. In essence, comparative negligence reduces the amount an individual is able to recover, in a civil action, based on the amount or percentage they are determined to be at fault.
In the State of Missouri, even if a person is 99% at fault for a car accident, that person could still seek and recover compensation for the 1% at which they are not at fault. However, their compensation will be reduced or adjusted to an amount that reflects 1%. This means if an individual is awarded $100,000 for damages sustained as a result of a car accident but is determined to be 99% at fault for the accident, that individual will only receive $1,000 (the 1% for which defendant was at fault.)
The same comparative fault calculation or method can be used when multiple parties are liable for the collision. In fact, insurance companies will offer settlement amounts indicative of the percentage in which they believe the injured party to have been at fault. However, insurance companies will also attempt to maximize the percentage for which an individual is at fault. To avoid situations such as this, wherein an injured individual receives less than they deserve, it is helpful to have a skilled and knowledgeable attorney representing your best interests.
CALL THE SWANSON LAW FIRM TO GET STARTED
The Swanson Law Firm has extensive experience representing individuals in personal injury claims resulting from car accidents, including multi-vehicle collisions. If you or a loved one have recently been injured as a result of a car accident, request a free initial consultation with our firm today.
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