Tim Akpinar
A dedicated attorney who fights hard for the rights of injury victims
Tim handles motor vehicle accidents, slip & fall accidents, medical malpractice, boating accidents, cruise ship accidents, and complex hull/machinery/cargo cases. Tim represents commercial mariners, recreational boaters, cruise ship passengers, and other injury plaintiffs. As a former shipboard officer, he understands the importance of the Jones Act and other maritime laws.
Tim taught law at SUNY Maritime College and in the MBA program at Southern New Hampshire University. On a limited basis, he tutors law school graduates for the New York State Bar Exam. He is referenced in Wikipedia - Seaman’s Manslaughter Statute. Tim was asked to cover the subject of limitation of liability for the American Trial Lawyers Association (Defeating Limitation of Liability in Maritime Law).
Tim worked as an environmental engineer for an 826 MW generating station where he trained NYC firefighters in first responder plant hazards that included 138,000-volt equipment, high-pressure steam, and bulk chemical storage. He worked as a shift supervisor at a 425 MW station, responsible for steam turbines and auxiliaries.
Tim covers maritime law topics for nationally published maritime and boating magazines, including WorkBoat, The Ensign (US Power Squadron), Offshore, Marine Officer, and LI Boating World. Tim can be reached at (718) 224-9824 or timakpinarlawoffice@verizon.net.
- Maritime Law
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
- Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
- Products Liability
- Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business - Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer - Arbitration/Mediation, Family - Arbitration/Mediation
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
- Environmental Law
- Construction Law
- Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation
- Insurance Claims
- Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance
- Free Consultation
- Contingent Fees
- New Jersey
- New York
- St. John's University School of Law
- J.D.
- State University of New York - Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler
- Bachelor of Engineering (1981) | Mechanical Engineering (Marine)
- Maritime Law Association of the United States
- Member
- Current
- New York State Bar  # 2621100
- Member
- - Current
- Gulf Coast Mariners
- Member
- Activities: An Advocacy group for commercial mariners working on the nation's inland and coastal waterways
- Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
- Member
- Defeating Limitation of Liability in Maritime Law
- Trial Magazine - The Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Legal Issues for Recreational Boaters, United States Power Squadron - Bayside Power Squadron
- Tim spoke about admiralty jurisdiction over pleasure boats, boating accident legal issues, limitation of liability, salvage law, marine liens, and other legal issues related to recreational boating.
- Maritime Law Issues for Commercial Mariners, Kingsborough Community College - Maritime Technology Program
- Tim spoke about the legal responsibilities of officers and ship's crews, criminal liability, the Jones Act, limitation of liability, salvage law, recent developments in Coast Guard regulations with marine casualty reporting and alcohol testing, marine pollution, and other maritime law topics.
- Recent Developments in Maritime Law, St. John's University School of Law
- Admiralty Law Society
- Tim spoke about salvage law, the law of finds, the Jones Act and legal issues affecting the rights of commercial fishermen.
- U.S. Military Sealift Command Shipboard Firefighting School
- US MSC
- ALARA Training - As Low As Reasonably Achievable - Radiation Reducing Considerations in Nuclear Power Plant Design
- Reliability Engineering Training
- Third Assistant Engineer - Steam & Motor Vessels - Unlimited Horsepower
- US Coast Guard
- Lifeboatman
- US Coast Guard
- Q. arbitration clause in a contract worker contract
- A: A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. The short answer is that arbitration clauses are binding. When parties to a contract agree to arbitration as a forum for handling disputes arising out of the matter, that means they forfeit rights to pursue remedies in small claims or other courts. This is a generality. For definitive guidance, a Washington attorney could advise more completely with the benefit of reviewing the contract with you. Good luck
- Q. Car insurance won’t refer me to one of there recommended refer shops and won’t rent me a car.
- A: A Utah attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. Unless it's a very generous policy, rental rights tend to be limited in many auto policies. One option could be to review the policy and your rights with a local attorney. Keep in mind that if the claim does not involve bodily injury, law firms may not offer to handle the matter on a contingency basis. Good luck
- Q. Our daughter's foot fell into a water drainage and tore up her leg. How does she proceed in suing the city of SJ?
- A: I'm sorry for your daughter's accident. A state or territory was not mentioned in your post, but if you use SJ as short for San José, your daughter could reach out to California attorneys to set up a free initial consult. Her rights could depend upon where the drainage ditch/recess was located, how she fell into it, and other details that a thorough investigation could reveal. Be aware of notice of claim aspects of these types of claims (short filing deadlines). I hope your daughter is okay. Good luck