Is it permissible for a plaintiff to join both the driver and the owner of a car in a car crash case?

In a car crash case, it is indeed permissible for a plaintiff to join both the driver and the owner of the car as defendants. This is supported by Rule 20 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which allows for permissive joinder of parties. Under this rule, multiple defendants may be joined in a single action if the claims against them arise from the same transaction or occurrence and there is a common question of law or fact.

In the context of a car crash, where the driver was operating the vehicle owned by another party, both the driver and the owner could be liable under various legal theories, such as vicarious liability or direct negligence. Thus, joining both defendants ensures that all relevant parties are present in the litigation, allowing for a more comprehensive resolution of the case.

Other choices suggest limitations that do not align with the permissive nature of Rule 20. For instance, the notion that a plaintiff must select one or the other or that consent from both parties is necessary misinterprets the rules surrounding joinder in civil litigation.