Much like other notable novelists from the nineteenth century, Dostoyevsky often uses coincidence to move the plot forward. Many key events in Crime and Punishment rely on coincidences that might appear unlikely to modern readers. However, during Dostoyevsky's time, coincidence was a commonly accepted literary technique. He does not try to justify these coincidences; instead, he presents them simply as facts. This method allows him to quickly unite characters and craft dramatic situations.

While walking along the street, Raskolnikov comes upon an accident. The victim is Marmeladov, a drunken civil servant he had previously met. Marmeladov is hit by a horse-drawn carriage. Raskolnikov assumes responsibility and has Marmeladov taken home, where he later dies. This coincidence leads to Raskolnikov's first encounter with Marmeladov's daughter, Sonya, who has turned to prostitution to support her destitute family. Drawn to Sonya's kind spirit and innocence, Raskolnikov eventually confides in her. In another twist, it is revealed that Sonya was friends with Lizaveta, which intensifies Raskolnikov's remorse and underscores Sonya's altruism.

It is also purely by chance that the manipulative Luzhin is staying temporarily in the same building as Katerina Ivanovna. This coincidence makes it plausible for him to attend Katerina's funeral gathering and try to accuse Sonya of theft. Later, coincidentally, Svidrigailov rents the apartment next to Sonya's. This closeness allows him to overhear Raskolnikov's murder confession. Svidrigailov's awareness of Raskolnikov's secret sets off another chain of events. The story features many more such coincidences. The occurrence of so many coincidences involving a small circle of characters in a large city like St. Petersburg seems almost unbelievable. Nonetheless, Dostoyevsky's engaging storytelling helps readers overlook the improbability of these coincidences.