acceleration theory

Acceleration theory is a subsection of causation in criminal law in which a third party’s action, or a second defendant ’s actions, speed up the effects of a primary defendant’s actions. For example, defendant A shoots the victim, which would cause the victim to bleed out in one hour; however, defendant B also stabs the victim, causing the victim to now bleed out in 30 minutes. Defendant B accelerated defendant A’s actions by causing the victim to die sooner.

The acceleration theory helps identify liability through causation of a crime . This is typically used by courts to determine but-for causation and subsequently which defendant’s actions caused the result of a crime and their guilt .

[Last reviewed in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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