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Ready-to-rent tags are a lot more than just paper

Your rental store is a very busy place and you have time only for procedures that will improve efficiency and promote profit. So why should you bother with an equipment-safety tagging system? Doesn't it just mean more paperwork?

Let me respond this way — will you have the time to search for and be able to locate all the voluminous documents required if you are sued? Will you have the time to take off to assist with interrogatories and to give depositions? And speaking of documents, do you even have the proper documents that can save your bacon in a lawsuit?

Let me tell you a true claim story. Our insured had rented a weed mower to a customer who pulled it back over his foot while the blade was rotating. Needless to say, he suffered a severe cut on his toes. He immediately hired an attorney and suit was filed against the rental store. His claim was that the mower was so poorly maintained that its guard was faulty, which allowed his injury. He was so sure he'd “strike it rich” at trial that he refused to make a reasonable settlement demand.

Therefore, we met him in court.

In effect, his testimony was that the rental store was negligent in allowing the equipment to be in such a poor state of repair to cause this horrible injury. While the mower was an older model, our defense was that the rental store kept it in excellent condition and that we had the documentation to prove it. We presented a stack of completed Ready-to-Rent tags to the jury that showed, in perfect sequence, all the maintenance the mower had received over the years. Representatives of the rental store demonstrated their concern for the safety of their customers by showing how their equipment tagging system helped assure customers they would have well-maintained equipment. The jury was so impressed with the store's people and their maintenance records that they returned a defense verdict. The plaintiff got nothing, zero, zilch, nada!

ARA Insurance has been providing Ready-to-Rent tags to the rental industry for many years. This system will help you with the documentation you will need should you have to defend yourself against a future claim.

Here's how it works. A new tag is attached to the equipment upon return from rental. Any damages and needed repairs are written on the RED portion of the tag. Once repairs are completed and the other items are inspected and initialed by the employee, the RED portion is removed and attached to your equipment service record or other work order. These should then be kept in a safe place for the number of years of your state's statute of limitations plus one year. For example, if your statute of limitations is four years, keep the records for five years to be sure you are protected. Some stores keep the RED portion of the tag in a shoebox, filed by calendar year. This makes specific records easy to locate if needed in the future. The GREEN portion of the tag remains on the equipment, indicating a “green light” for rental. When a new contract is written, the employee completes the GREEN portion and attaches it to the rental contract for proper storage.

Click here to order our Ready-to-Rent tags. As a service to the rental industry, we offer them at a price that just covers our expenses. And remember: your best litigation defense is good documentation of your service and maintenance practices.

Believe it!