When you’ve been hit from behind, the aftermath can feel like a blur—aches that show up days later, a car that suddenly isn’t safe to drive, and a stack of questions about who’s responsible and how to make things right. Rear-end crashes are frightening and frustrating, especially when you’re dealing with pain, missed work, and insurance calls at the same time.
We help people throughout St. Louis County and St. Charles County in Missouri—and across the river in St. Clair County and Madison County, Illinois—gather proof, organize a claim, and press for a fair outcome. The Law Office of Steve Slough is available to walk you through the process and put the evidence in the right order so your story is heard. Reach out to us today.
“Fault” is about responsibility for causing a crash. In rear-end collisions, fault often turns on whether the trailing driver followed at a safe distance, kept a proper lookout, and reacted reasonably to traffic conditions. That sounds straightforward, but real cases hinge on details: speed, lighting, weather, traffic flow, and what each driver did in the seconds before impact.
We build fault by connecting facts to rules of the road and common sense. That means showing how the other driver’s actions fell short of what a careful driver would’ve done. It also means documenting your own safe driving, so there’s a clear contrast.
Many people assume the driver in the back is always at fault. Often that’s right—but not always. Fault can be shared when, for example, a lead driver suddenly slams on the brakes for no reason, makes an abrupt lane change and stops, or drives with non-working brake lights. Road hazards, multi-car chain reactions, and mechanical failures can also complicate things.
That said, even in these tougher scenarios, we can still show the trailing driver had time, distance, or other options to avoid the crash. The key is evidence—what it shows, what it doesn’t, and how we explain it.
Proving fault is about more than telling the truth—it’s about showing it. Below are common categories of proof we collect and how each one moves the needle in your favor after a car accident.
Before we get to the list, here’s the big picture: one piece of evidence rarely wins a case by itself. We combine multiple sources so they reinforce each other. When photos, reports, and data all point to the same conclusion, insurance companies listen—and juries do, too.
Most helpful records to gather early:
Police report details: Officer observations, diagramming, citations, and statements captured near the scene create a time-stamped snapshot of what happened.
Crash photos and video: Position of vehicles, road markings, skid marks, and debris patterns help show speed, angles, and point of impact.
Witness accounts: Independent voices can confirm sudden braking, tailgating, distraction, or swerving that you couldn’t see from the driver’s seat.
Vehicle telematics and EDR data: Modern cars record speed, braking, and throttle in the moments before impact, offering objective proof.
Surveillance and dashcam footage: Businesses, traffic cameras, and dashcams can provide a neutral film reel of the lead-up and the crash.
Phone records: Texting or calls at the time of impact may show distraction by the trailing driver.
Repair invoices: Damage location and severity can match (or contradict) a driver’s story about speed and angles.
When read together, these materials form a narrative that’s hard to discount. If one piece is missing, we look for another that fills the same role. The goal is to close gaps and answer the “how” and “why” questions decisively before the insurer even asks them.
Traffic rules require drivers to keep a safe following distance and maintain a proper lookout. In rear-end cases, we often point to these duties to show the trailing driver fell short. We also reference jury instructions that judges use to explain the law. While those vary by state, the message is consistent: careful drivers anticipate hazards and adjust.
We don’t need to quote statutes to use them. We frame the facts in everyday language—how a prudent driver would’ve slowed, left more room, or avoided distraction—and then connect that to the rules that matter if the case goes to court.
Insurers tend to repeat the same few defenses. Anticipating them helps us prepare responses that are concise and persuasive. Civil cases are about tipping the scales in your favor, not proving every detail beyond doubt.
Frequent defenses and how we respond:
“It was a low-speed tap.” Even modest speed changes can jolt the neck and back. We use damage patterns, medical records, and biomechanics literature to show why pain is real.
“You stopped suddenly.” We look for traffic reasons (a red light, a crosswalk, a hazard) and show that the trailing driver should’ve been ready to brake.
“You had a bad back already.” Preexisting conditions can be aggravated. We work with doctors to separate old baselines from new, post-crash symptoms.
“You didn’t treat right away.” Delayed symptoms are common. We explain physiology and point to medical notes showing when pain emerged.
“The weather caused it.” Rain or snow calls for more caution, not less. We argue the trailing driver should’ve adjusted the following distance and speed.
By tackling these points head-on, we reduce their impact and keep the focus on the other driver’s choices.
Your priority is health. After that, a few practical steps can preserve proof that might otherwise vanish. Even if some time has passed, many of these tips still help. Think of this section as a checklist you can put into action quickly.
Immediate steps that pay off later:
Get medical care: Prompt evaluation protects your health and ties symptoms to the crash.
Report the crash: A police report anchors the facts and documents the scene.
Photograph everything: Vehicles, road, weather, injuries, and the other car’s plate—capture it all.
Collect names: Witness contact info is gold; memories fade, records don’t.
Preserve digital proof: Save dashcam files, phone photos, and any app-based trip data.
Watch your words: Be polite, but don’t guess about speed or injuries at the scene or on calls.
Call us early: We can send preservation letters and start gathering records right away.
Even if the insurer seems friendly at first, early guidance helps prevent small missteps from becoming big problems.
Rear-end claims move through stages: medical recovery, records gathering, claim presentation, negotiation, and—if needed—litigation. There are strict filing deadlines that depend on state law and case type. Because those rules can change, we don’t guess. We review your dates, identify the controlling deadline, and act with time to spare.
While your case is active, we check in about treatment progress and new bills. That keeps your demand current and prevents surprises if settlement talks heat up. If negotiations stall, we’ll discuss filing suit and what that means for your calendar.
Even when the fault seems obvious, insurers work hard to downplay injuries from a rear-end Car Accident. They may argue it was “minor” or unrelated to your pain. By gathering the right mix of evidence—medical records, photos, and consistent accounts—we create a file that’s much harder for them to discount.
A Car Accident case isn’t just about fixing a bumper; it’s about restoring your health, your ability to work, and your daily life. That’s why proving fault matters so much.
You don’t have to sort through fault, forms, and objections by yourself. We help people in St. Louis County and St. Charles County, Missouri, as well as St. Clair County and Madison County, Illinois, build strong Car Accident claims backed by solid proof.
The Law Office of Steve Slough is ready to gather the right evidence, frame your story clearly, and press for the outcome you deserve. Reach out to us for a free conversation about your case and your best next steps.
When you’ve been hit from behind, the aftermath can feel like a blur—aches that show up days later, a car that suddenly isn’t safe to drive, and a stack of questions about who’s responsible and how to make things right. Rear-end crashes are frightening and frustrating, especially when you’re dealing with pain, missed work, and insurance calls at the same time.
Multi-vehicle rear-end crashes are among the most common and chaotic types of car accidents we see on the roads. These collisions often involve more than two vehicles and can result in a chain reaction of impacts.
