Tim Akpinar

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.

• Free Consultation
• Contingent Fees

New Jersey

Since 1994

New York

Since 1994

St. John's University School of Law

J.D.

1993

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

1994 - Current

Gulf Coast Mariners

Member

2013

Activities: An Advocacy group for commercial mariners working on the nation's inland and coastal waterways

Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

Member

2009

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 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. Can I sue in small claims the property management owners of negligence (unmaintained wet/icy walkway)?

March 4, 2025

A: A Maine attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a month. Not normally on a W.C. matter - small claims are not set up for that - they usually have their guidelines for cases that are straightforward and limited damages. W.C. has its own adjudication systems/panels. Most small claims divisions have online resources for the public on how to file a case, downloadable forms, what types of cases are permissible in small claims, what types of cases are excluded, monetary caps, SOLs, and other useful info. If you have a third-party claim (outside the workers' comp system), it's possible that might be suited for small claims. Maybe the best place to start could be to try to set up a free initial consult with a W.C. attorney - they would know how to navigate Maine's W.C. process, and what your claim would cover and what it would exclude. I hope you are okay. Good luck ... Read More

Q. Slip and fall

March 3, 2025

A: The Better Business Bureau is not going to mediate; that's not what they do. They don't adjudicate accident cases - their work is more with consumer issues. The usual options in accident matters are court or arbitration. You mention hiring a lawyer with your own money. Accident cases are ordinarily handled on a contingency basis, meaning that you wouldn't actually be "hiring a lawyer with your own money." Contingency means the law firm is paid as a percentage of recovery at the conclusion of a case, as opposed to paying them up front in an hourly manner or something along those lines. Good luck

Q. Does the SNAP program fall under DEI since it promotes equity and inclusion (of certain income)?

March 2, 2025

A: Alabama attorneys who work with diversity, equity, and inclusion issues could advise best, but your question remains open for a month. I don't think it's accurate to say that the SNAP program promotes DEI. The purpose is to help families with food expenses. But I think you could say that the program's execution involves DEI, in that it has to be implemented in a manner that is income-based, and does not discriminate against legally established constitutional classes of individuals. But that's only my individual opinion. Different attorneys could offer different legal perspectives. Good luck