Tim Akpinar

Tim Akpinar represents commercial mariners, recreational boaters, cruise ship passengers, and other injury plaintiffs throughout the entire United States, including inland rivers. As a former shipboard officer, Tim understands the operation of commercial vessels and the legal rights of people who serve aboard them. Such rights can materialize under the Jones Act and other maritime laws. He has owned several vessels and handles maritime collision, maritime salvage, boating accidents, cruise ship accidents, and complex technical cases. He also handles general injury (motor vehicle) and medical malpractice cases.

Tim taught law at SUNY Maritime College and in the MBA program at Southern New Hampshire University. He worked as a bar exam essay grader for BarBri, where he counseled students for the NYS Bar Exam.

Tim fights hard for the legal rights of clients who have sustained injury. 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 was responsible for regulatory compliance and oil spill response. He trained NYC firefighters in first responder plant hazards that included 138,000 volt electrical equipment, high-pressure steam, bulk acid, caustic, and no. 6 heavy fuel oil storage. He worked as a shift supervisor at a 425 MW station, responsible for steam turbines, generators, boilers, diesels, 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
• Medical Malpractice
• Products Liability
• Arbitration & Mediation
• Appeals & Appellate
• Environmental Law
• Construction Law
• Insurance Claims

• 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

USMSC

ALARA Training - As Low As Reseasonable Achievable - Radiation Reducing Considerations in Nuclear Power Plant Design

Reliability Engineering Training

Third Assistant Engineer - Steam & Motor Vessels - Unlimited Horsepower

USCG

Lifeboatman

USCG

Q. I want to learn about how lawyers use tech in their research. I'm familiar with Lexis and WestLaw.

6 June 2020

A: This is really a big question and the answer could fill pages. Legal databases are used for a number of purposes. A easy one is looking for cases. That's fairly straightforward and simple. Because the time spent on these systems is at a premium, they are more often used for more specialized tasks, such as finding issues or applications/interpretations of statutes in earlier case law. The time spent depends on the efficiency and experience of the user. In terms of manual tasks, there are many new platforms for document review and e-discovery. However, some of these tasks are still done manually, so far as searching for key terms within documents because some attorneys find that simpler than acclimating to new software. You are going to find many resources on the topics you mention online. Tim Akpinar

Q. How can i change or revise a personal injury claim from neglience to reckless? Please help

6 June 2020

A: A Rhode Island attorney could best advise, but your post remains open for two weeks. Until you are able to consult with a local attorney, as a general premise, if you are talking about a purely civil matter, that distinction could be one that the insurance carrier and the claimant, or their respective attorneys, could discuss in terms of determining liability. If you are talking about a matter than involves elements of criminal law and state penal codes, making those characterizations is generally in the hands of the district attorney, not the parties to the action. Tim Akpinar

Q. Last month I had an MRI done on my spine and the hospital I went to basically didn't want to do anything knowing I had i

5 June 2020

A: A Florida attorney could advise best, but your post remains open for two weeks. You've provided considerable information, but there didn't appear to be a question. If you are wondering whether you have legal rights stemming from medical care you received, one option is to contact a med mal attorney in Florida. If an attorney felt there might be a basis for a claim, they could request your records and review with a medical professional. Tim Akpinar