A new method is proposed to analyze the effects of multiple scattering on simultaneously detected lidar returns for ground-based and space-borne lidars, and it is applied to a Monte Carlo-based simulation to test the feasibility of the new method. The experimental evidence of multiple scattering influences on both ground-based and space-borne lidar returns is presented. Monte Carlo-based evaluations of the multiple scattering parameters for the counter-looking lidar returns are separately obtained in order to correct the effective values of backscattering and extinction coefficients. Results show that for the typical cirrus cloud, the presence of the multiple scattering can lead to an underestimation of the extinction coefficient by as large as 70%, and the backscattering coefficient is overestimated by nearly 10%, which are retrieved by the Counter-propagating Elastic Signals Combination (CESC) technique in which the multiple scattering influences are neglected. Nevertheless, by the new method in which the multiple scattering effects are considered differently for the ground-based and space-borne lidar returns the extinction and backscattering coefficients can be more accurately obtained.