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. Passenger in accident considering personal injury claim due to mental and physical damage.

April 29, 2025

A: I'm sorry about your accident. As my colleague correctly advises, the best starting point could be to arrange a free initial/no-obligation consult with an attorney. The most immediate thing an attorney may address is arranging no-fault benefits (PIP) for you to be covered for medical expenses or any lost wages. There's a short and unforgiving time window of only 30 days to apply for those. There are a host of other issues - a consult with an experienced attorney should cover them. I hope you're okay. Good luck

Q. Injuries from tripping over a concrete seating structure outside a football stadium in NJ. Can I sue?

April 28, 2025

A: I'm sorry about your accident. Those seem like serious injuries. Yes, it's possible you could pursue action. More information would naturally be needed, in terms of the structure and surrounding carpet. You could reach out to law firms to discuss in more detail. Free initial consults without obligation are the usual practice for such cases. If nothing else, you'd learn the timelines and deadlines within which you'd need to act to preserve your legal rights here. I hope you're okay and recovering from your injuries. Good luck

Q. Seeking legal review for potential medical negligence after robotic valve surgery in NY.

April 25, 2025

A: I'm sorry for your ordeal following surgery. The best way to explore obtaining a legal review would be to reach out to law firms to try to arrange a free initial consult without obligation. That's a normal courtesy in the industry. In terms of the elements you outline in your post, the matter of the rails being left down appear relatively straightforward, compared to the other more-complex attributes of your matter. Those would likely involve a review of records, insofar as the heart attack, or permanency of lung injury from chest tube. An experienced attorney would likely seek the guidance and opinion of a medical professional in evaluating those elements. The best starting point in arranging the legal assistance you seek would be to reach out to law firms to arrange a free initial consult. If this happened in May 2023, you may have already been in contact with attorneys, who may have advised you about the med mal statute of limitations of two-and-a-half years in New York State. Since we are approaching May 2025, I'd recommend you begin discussing this without further delay if you wish to explore your rights and options. I hope you are okay and making a healthy recovery. Good luck ... Read More