A newly released study by Injured In Florida, a nationwide personal injury law firm, reveals that Nebraska leads the nation in the percentage of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. Analyzing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the study found that between 2018 and 2022, 52.22% of all fatal crashes in Nebraska involved two or more vehicles, the highest rate of any state.
While single-vehicle crashes remain a serious concern, multi-vehicle collisions tend to be more complex, more deadly, and more likely to involve multiple injuries and parties, making this an urgent public safety issue. Across the United States, 43.17% of fatal crashes during the five years involved more than one vehicle. Nebraska’s percentage stands nearly 10 percentage points above the national average.
🚗 Top 5 States With the Highest Percentage of Multi-Vehicle Fatal Crashes:
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Nebraska – 52.22%
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Delaware – 47.93%
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Indiana – 46.85%
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Michigan – 46.63%
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Oklahoma – 46.45%
In Nebraska alone, the study identified 1,036 fatal crashes between 2018 and 2022. Of these, 462 involved two vehicles and 79 involved more than two, indicating that over half of all fatal crashes in the state involved multiple vehicles. These numbers suggest that Nebraska’s roads, particularly rural highways and high-speed corridors, may be prone to chain-reaction incidents and unsafe passing behaviors.
Delaware follows closely behind with nearly 48% of its fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles, despite its relatively small size. Indiana, Michigan, and Oklahoma round out the top five, each with more than 46% of fatal crashes involving more than one vehicle. These states represent a mix of Midwestern and Southern geographies, suggesting that a combination of traffic volume, infrastructure design, and weather conditions may all play a role.
🏞️ The Safest States for Multi-Vehicle Crashes? It’s Mostly Rural
At the other end of the spectrum, Montana reported the lowest share of multi-vehicle fatal crashes, with just 28.09% of fatal crashes involving more than one vehicle. The state recorded 929 total fatal crashes over the study period, with only 261 involving two or more vehicles.
Other states with notably low multi-vehicle crash rates include:
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Maine – 34.11%
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Rhode Island – 34.15%
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Hawaii – 35.34%
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Wyoming – 37.18%
These states are generally more rural or geographically unique, which may lead to fewer multi-car interactions. Sparse traffic, lower speeds, and less congested roadways are likely contributing factors to the reduced frequency of multi-vehicle incidents.
🔍 Why Multi-Vehicle Fatalities Matter
While all fatal crashes are tragic, those involving multiple vehicles tend to be more dangerous due to the nature of secondary collisions, unpredictable impact angles, and the potential for fires, rollovers, or blocked roadways. Multi-vehicle crashes can also be more difficult to investigate and litigate, often involving multiple insurance companies, legal disputes, and higher financial stakes.
According to a spokesperson for Injured In Florida, “Understanding where and why multi-vehicle crashes happen is key to improving roadway safety across the country. Our goal with this report is to provide data-backed insights that can help inform infrastructure planning, policy changes, and public safety campaigns.”
They added, “It’s not just about identifying dangerous states, it’s about uncovering patterns and pushing for real, local change.”
📈 Key National Trends Identified in the Report:
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States with high traffic volume, urban-suburban sprawl, and limited public transit infrastructure are more likely to experience multi-vehicle fatal crashes.
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Tailgating, speeding, distracted driving, and unsafe lane changes are common contributing factors to these types of accidents.
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Conversely, states with rural landscapes, lower population density, and less congested roadways tend to have fewer multi-vehicle fatalities.
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Weather patterns such as snow, fog, or rain may play a role in states like Michigan and Indiana, where visibility and road grip affect crash frequency.
About the Study
This report was produced by the legal research team at Injured In Florida using fatal crash data sourced from the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). The analysis reviewed crash data from all 50 states between 2018 and 2022, with a focus on incidents involving two or more vehicles. The study aims to raise awareness around regional traffic safety issues and empower policymakers, transportation officials, and safety advocates to take informed, preventative action.
