563.070. Accidents an excuse for offense, when.
An accident may be a legal excuse—if no one meant to cause harm.
If someone unintentionally hurts another person during a lawful act and wasn’t acting carelessly or recklessly, the law may excuse their actions.
1. An act that would normally be a crime under chapter 565 (like assault or homicide) is not criminal if:
- It happened by accident during a legal activity,
- The person did not try to cause harm or act knowingly, and
- The person was not criminally negligent.
2. The defendant must raise this excuse in court as part of their defense.
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