A more thorough explanation:

The accepted-work doctrine is a principle in construction law that states that once an owner accepts the work of a contractor, the contractor is not liable to third parties for any injury that arises from the contractor's negligence in performing under the contract. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

One exception is if the injury results from a hidden, imminently dangerous defect that the contractor knows about, and the owner does not know about. In such cases, the contractor may still be held liable for any resulting injuries.

For example, if a contractor builds a deck for a homeowner, and the homeowner accepts the work, the contractor is generally not liable for any injuries that occur on the deck. However, if the contractor knew that the deck was structurally unsound and did not inform the homeowner, and someone is injured as a result, the contractor may be held liable.

Another example is if a contractor is hired to install a new roof on a building, and the owner accepts the work. If a few months later, a strong wind blows off a section of the roof, injuring someone below, the contractor is generally not liable. However, if the contractor knew that the roof was not properly secured and did not inform the owner, the contractor may be held liable for any resulting injuries.