Updated: January 6, 2026 · 2 min read
Employers in New York have a legal obligation to provide safe working conditions for their employees. Under New York Labor Law Section 200, property owners and employers must keep work areas reasonably free from hazards. When employers fail to maintain safe premises, injured workers may be entitled to compensation through workers' compensation or, in certain circumstances, through a personal injury lawsuit against a responsible third party.
In this case, our client was a student working a side job as a cleaner in a school. While cleaning a bathroom, she slipped and suffered a serious knee injury caused by water from a ceiling leak. It was discovered that the school had been aware of this ceiling problem for some time but had failed to repair it properly.
Because our client was an outside contractor — not a direct employee of the school — she was not limited to a workers' compensation claim against the school. Under New York premises liability law, property owners owe a non-delegable duty to maintain safe conditions for all lawful visitors on their property, including independent contractors performing work on-site. The school's failure to fix a known hazard gave rise to a viable negligence claim.
Our team at The Orlow Firm pursued a case against the school for failing to maintain safe working conditions. The evidence showed that other workers had repeatedly reported the ceiling leak to school administrators, but the school never adequately addressed the problem — ultimately resulting in our client's injury.
We were able to reach a favorable resolution for our client, and the school compensated her for her injuries. She has since had knee surgery and recovered.
At The Orlow Firm, we ensure that our clients understand their rights as workers, regardless of their employment situation. Our team of experienced attorneys keeps clients informed throughout every stage of their case, fights for full and fair compensation, and works to prevent similar injuries from happening to others.
If you have been injured at work or on someone else's property, contact The Orlow Firm for a free consultation. Our New York City attorneys handle all types of personal injury and workplace accident cases.
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