Multi-vehicle accidents, often referred to as chain reaction crashes, typically involve three or more vehicles colliding in a “chain” of rear-end impacts. Typically, in a rear-end accident between two cars, we assume that the driver who does the rear-ending is at fault, but that is not necessarily the case in a chain reaction accident. Liability in these types of collisions isn’t always so straightforward, so how do you determine who is at fault or liable?
These accidents are not only more chaotic due to the number of vehicles involved, but they also tend to include multiple contributing factors, such as:
More vehicles also mean more passengers, more injuries, and more insurance claims—making it critical to understand how fault is assigned.
Missouri is an “at-fault” state that uses a pure comparative fault system. This simply means each driver involved is legally responsible for any part of the accident he or she caused. In multi-car collisions, fault is often shared among multiple parties.
In a multi-vehicle accident, typically there are multiple responsible parties. Fault does not always lie with the one who caused it or started the chain reaction.
Let’s take a look at the following example.
Example:
Let’s break down a common chain reaction accident:
In this simplistic example, the drivers of Vehicles 2 and 3 will be assigned a percentage of fault in the accident, say 30% and 70% respectively. Assigning a percentage of blame is not an exact science; however, this is why it is a good idea to have a personal injury attorney involved who understands the details of the accident and how the process works.
Questions? Our knowledgeable staff is available at (877) 284-6600.
Once you have received medical treatment, the first step to take after being involved in an accident is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. At Nash & Franciskato, we help victims of multi-vehicle crashes by:
We fight to recover compensation for:
Multi-vehicle accidents are legally complex and emotionally overwhelming. Our Kansas City-based personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of helping victims navigate the claims process and recover the compensation they deserve.
Call us today at (877) 284-6600 for a free, no-obligation case review. One of our experienced team members will speak with you personally and guide you through your legal options.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published April 10, 2019. It was reviewed and updated on October 13, 2022. Additional updates were made on September 5, 2025.
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