# New York Labor Law 200
> This section codifies the common-law duty to provide a safe place to work — and turns on notice and control.

- Type: informational
- URL: https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/labor-law-200/
- Updated: 2026-08-20T00:46:21+00:00

## About this page
This section codifies the common-law duty to provide a safe place to work — and turns on notice and control.

## Key facts
- Phone: (212) 555-0100
- Location: New York, New York
- Logo: /storage/projects/27/files/lawlogo.webp

## Page content
Labor Law § 200 is the broadest of the three worker-protection statutes, codifying the common-law duty to provide a reasonably safe workplace. Unlike § 240's strict liability, a § 200 claim generally requires showing that the responsible party either created the dangerous condition or had notice of it and the…
The free Accident Answer Engine walks through your situation and shows the legal issues, deadlines, and next steps that fit it. Open the Answer Engine →

## How New York law applies
- Notice or control is required. Liability usually depends on whether the defendant created the hazard, or knew about it and had authority over the work or…
- Covers dangerous conditions and means/methods. It applies both to unsafe site conditions and to how the work itself was directed.
- Often pled with § 240/§ 241. § 200 frequently accompanies the other sections to capture hazards they don't reach.

## Who may be responsible
Liability often reaches beyond the obvious. Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include:
- The property owner (with notice/control)
- The general contractor (with supervisory authority)
- A contractor that created the condition
- Your employer (through workers' compensation)
- Another party that controlled the means and methods

## Deadlines that matter
A third-party construction case generally must be filed within three years, and a related wrongful-death claim within two years. Public projects can shorten these windows. Just as important, job sites change quickly — equipment and witnesses disappear — so prompt documentation matters.

## What to do now
- Report the injury to your employer or supervisor in writing the same day, and start a workers' compensation claim to protect your benefits.
- Get medical care immediately and tell the provider exactly how the injury happened on the job.
- Write down which contractors were on site, what equipment was involved, and any safety device that was missing, broken, or not provided.
- Identify co-workers who saw what happened — job sites change fast and witnesses move on.
- Photograph the location, the equipment, and the conditions if you safely can.

## Mistakes to avoid
A good case can be undercut in the first days. Watch for these:
- Assuming workers' compensation is your only option — a separate third-party case against a contractor, owner, or equipment maker is often available and can…
- Letting the job site get cleaned up or repaired before the conditions are documented.
- Giving a recorded statement to the site's insurer or signing forms you don't understand.
- Waiting to act — memories fade, workers leave, and key deadlines can be short.

## Related
- [Property Owner Liability in NYC Construction](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/property-owner-liability/)
- [New York Labor Law 241(6)](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/labor-law-241-6/)
- [General Contractor Liability in NYC Construction](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/general-contractor-liability/)
- [Union & Non-Union Worker Rights in NYC](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/union-non-union-worker-rights/)
- [Third-Party Construction Claims in NYC](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/third-party-construction-claims/)
- [Construction Site Safety Violations in NYC](https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/labor-law/site-safety-violations/)