Located near the western end of Long Island Sound, this law firm provides marine legal
assistance and services nationwide for collision, salvage, accident, unseaworthiness and
maritime injury cases as well as lawsuits and disputes arising from the design, construction,
operation, and repair of commercial and recreational vessels.
Tim Akpinar Contact Information:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Street
Address:
Mailing
Address:
Website:
Maritime Attorney Tim Akpinar - New York - Long Island - Maritime Lawyer Jones Act Seamen - Boating Accident - Commercial Fishermen - Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer - Marine Legal Assistance
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This includes captains, engineers, mates, deckhands, able
seamen, bartenders, cooks, stewards, stewardesses,
waiters, fish processors and other seafarers. In addition to
representing plaintiffs as a maritime injury lawyer, I handle
disputes and claims involving shipyard services, contracts,
salvage, warranties, maintenance and cure and other legal
marine issues.
For legal questions related to being a passenger or operator
injured in a powerboat, jet ski, sail boating accident or while
working on a riverboat, tour boat, towboat, tugboat,
pushboat, offshore supply vessel (OSV), commercial fishing
boat or vessel, workboat, yacht club launch, marina tender,
water taxi, ferry, cruise ship, sightseeing or dinner cruise
boat, charter fishing boat, party fishing boat, casino boat or
other vessel, call me.
Initial consultations are free and confidential. With offshore,
inland, overseas and abroad in another country, or brown
water injuries, there is no fee unless I am successful. Other
matters are handled on a contingency or hourly basis,
depending on their nature.
The firm office is located near Long Island Sound, close to
the navigable offshore and inland waters of New York City,
New York State, New York Harbor, Upstate New York, New
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut,
Newport, Rhode Island, Block Island, Nantucket, Martha's
Vineyard, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Vermont and Maine. I handle cases throughout the entire
United States, Great Lakes, and inland waters, rivers, and
whitewater rapids...and covering Lake Superior, Lake Erie,
Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence
Seaway, Mississippi River, Missouri River, West Coast, Gulf
of Mexico, including Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Texas and the East Coast...and overseas combat and war
zones under the Defense Base Act and War Hazards Act, as
well as non-military cases under the Death on the High Seas
Act.
(718) 224-9824
t.akpinar@verizon.net
250-02 Northern Blvd
Little Neck, New York 11363
P.O. Box 620766
Little Neck, New York 11362
www.mycounsel.us
This firm handles marine and general litigation, arbitration,
mediation, Jones Act claims, maintenance and cure,
negligence, wrongful death, salvage, fire, grounding, property
damage, unseaworthiness, rules of the road - collision regs,
wake damage and liability, and property damage & loss
lawsuits. This includes legal help with negligence and
commercial fishing, workboat, tugboat, kayak, canoe,
jet ski, swimming, boating and diving accidents (including
hard hat divers under the Longshore and Harborworkers'
Compensation Act and their third party lawsuits). It also
includes personal watercraft (PWC) and other injuries at
sea, offshore and international waters and jurisdictions,
overseas and abroad, on inland rivers, and other navigable
waters and inland lakes throughout the United States,
including the Great Lakes. For military contractors and
subcontractors, this includes contract personnel injured in
the course of service in a combat area or military base.
These civilian claims are covered by the Defense Base Act
and the War Hazards Act, in the section on shipyard
employees. This can be a factor in an overseas injury.

If you were injured on the
water as a deep sea or
brown water mariner,
commercial or recreational
fisherman, recreational
boater, paid yacht crew,
personal watercraft (PWC)
or wave runner operator,
commercial (hard hat -
salvage - wreck removal -
underwater structure - oil
rig - construction site,
possibly LHWCA or Jones
Act) or recreational diver,
dockbuilder, or other
commercial seaman or
crew member, you can
learn about your legal rights
in the maritime law section
of this website.
What are your legal rights in a
boating accident? Tim covers
Boating Accident Law in The
Ensign, magazine of the U.S.
Power Squadron
"A Former Engine Room Officer Who Will
Fight Hard For Your Rights... representing
commercial and recreational mariners
nationwide in all waters and all states."
Proud To
Give
Discounts
to
Veterans
Go to "Commercial Vessels", and click the text Commercial Divers, Longshoremen and Shipyard Workers to see the article Marine Pollution, by Tim Akpinar, from the November 2005 issue of WorkBoat.
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Go to Maritime Law Links (in the Links Section) to see Tim Akpinar article about new U.S.C.G. reportable incident regs...important reading.
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From Montauk Point to Sheepshead Bay...from Sandy Hook to Cape May, New Jersey and points beyond, this office is ready to provide marine legal assistance, services, information, and answer your legal questions and other FAQs...frequently asked questions....as a legal info hotline...covering Suffolk County, Nassau County, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, City Island, Manhattan, Staten Island, Westchester, White Plains, Putnam, Rockland, Kingston, Albany, Massena, Rochester, Buffalo, Ocean, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Monmouth counties.
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In the links section, there are useful resources and references for discount boating equipment and supplies, sails, rigging, hardware, marinas, brokerages, clubs, life preservers, personal flotation devices (PFD), global positioning systems (GPS), navigation equipment, celestial navigation, terrestrial navigation, dead reckoning, yacht design, ship design, naval architects, engineers, surveyors, brokers, insurance, finance, title documentation, licensing, training, education, maritime employment and jobs on a ship, tugboat, ferry, yacht or other vessel as well as nautical information from websites in the United States of America and overseas. Some of the resources can be useful if you want to buy, sell, charter or rent a boat, or need help with finding diesel and gas engines, outdrives, propellers and other technical, professional information, and legal info and legal help.
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© February 2005 by Tim Akpinar
All Rights Reserved The contents of this website may not be copied or transmitted without the prior written consent of Tim Akpinar
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Who Pays Your Medical Bills in a Maritime Injury? If someone is injured aboard a cruise ship, charter boat or other vessel, one of the first things they think about is who will pay my medical bills. If they are a passenger, the cruise ship or other vessel they are aboard as a passenger is responsible for payment of medical bills. If they are a crew member or employee, the vessel and operator is still the source of reimbursement for their medical expenses. This would be in the form of maintenance and cure. Cure is intended to cover medical expenses for an employee who incurs medical bills for hospitals, ambulances, physicians, doctors, nurses, therapists and other medical providers. See the section on "Commercial Mariners" to learn more about maintenance and cure. Maintenance is intended to cover a person's living expenses in a claim. Unfortunately, some of the fee schedules followed in these insurance policies can be very low. Although medical bills should be covered under the Jones Act, an employee may also be entitled to benefits outlined in their collective bargaining union contract. For questions about your rights to reimbursement with doctors bills and hospital bills, you may contact this office.
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See the February 2007 issue of Chesapeake Bay Boating - To Salvage or To Tow, by Tim Akpinar. The article discusses how maritime law affects the outcome of a simple towing operation and a traditional marine salvage operation. It covers the legal issues that may arise in a marine salvage claim, covering salvage law, towing law and wreck removal. See article in the Boating Accidents section of the site.
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Go to Maritime Law, Recreational Boating, to see Tim's coverage of Maritime Law and Sailing, in Windcheck magazine. Learn about basic concepts of admiralty and maritime law you need to know and learn how they can affect your rights if you were injured in a boating accident...and see the issues important for a maritime attorney to identify. You can learn the ways in which a jet ski or daysailor can be legally compared to a commercial fishing boat or a workboat with a barge.
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Go to the maritime law main page....Defeating Limitation of Liability in Maritime Cases, by Tim Akpinar, from the February 2006 issue of Trial, the magazine of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Limitation of liability can impact boating and jet ski accidents as well as Jones Act seaman injuries. Limitation of liability dates back to 18th century English and 19th century American laws from the age of sail. However, recent admiralty decisions indicate that the concept still finds application in the age of global positioning systems and satellite communications... these court decisions affect the rights of Jones Act seamen injured at sea as commercial fishermen, merchant mariners, yacht crews, or in recreational boating accidents...whether the lawsuits involve negligence, rules of the road - collision regs issues, unseaworthiness, or general marine legal concepts. A good deal of these admiralty actions hinge on the privity and knowledge of the shipowner...or notice of a condition. Did the responsible persons (whether a captain, engineer, other deck or QMED) exercise due diligence, conduct safety inspections, comply with STCW and classification society and Coast Guard license requirements and other statutes, codes and regs. Interestingly, although admiralty jurisdiction dictates which nation's maritime law will apply and where a case will be heard, some provisions have international impact, such as STCW (Standards of Training Certification & Watchkeeping), SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea). Sometimes the same maritime law would be applied whether on inland waters or overseas and abroad in a foreign country, military base or combat area.
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Proud To
Give
Discounts
to Union
Members
With recreational boating and diving accidents, it would be
nicer if we didn't have them. But in the event of an accident,
questions arise about liability, injury, and property
damage. Was the boating accident a result of operator
error, operator inattention, infraction of the rules of the
road, violating safety regulations, alcohol or drugs, hazard
to navigation, or equipment failure? Did the parties follow
the steps in reporting a boating accident...did they fill out
an accident report? A good maritime trial lawyer should
examine it from a jurisdictional standpoint... will federal
law apply, or will state law apply? A good maritime lawyer
should appreciate that federal admiralty jurisdiction avails
certain defenses to the offender that are not be available
under state law. An experienced and aggressive lawyer
familiar with boating accident law and regulations must
identify these tactics before they are used. Does it make a
difference if someone was injured on "navigable waters"?
Is a canoe, kayak, jet-ski, waverunner or other personal
watercraft a "vessel" in the same sense as a fishing
trawler under maritime law? Does it make a difference if
the accident occurred on Lake Champlain, Lake George,
the Finger Lakes, or Lake Tahoe? Is the statute of
limitations different on navigable waters. Which statutes of
limitations apply if the incident occurred between two
states? Is there a difference between an occurrence on the
East River or Hudson River? Is there such a thing as dive
or diving law? How do you measure a remedy...weighing
physical personal injury, medical damages, dental repair,
psychiatric and psychological damage, emotional
distress, pain and suffering. What about waivers,
disclaimers, hold harmless agreements and assumption
of risk? These are some of the legal issues that can arise
at trial in court and where it can be important to know what
to do if you're involved in a boating, jet-skiing, canoeing,
kayaking, waterskiing, or diving accident lawsuit.
For legal assistance and guidance if injured aboard a
cruise ship, or for legal help with cruise ship law questions,
go to the Cruise Ship Injury page of this site. A trip on a
cruise ship can certainly be a dream vacation. While many
passengers enjoy a vacation that leaves memories for a
lifetime, there are some things that it wouldn't hurt a cruise
ship traveler to know. In the event of being injured on a
cruise ship, a passenger should know that they can face
shorter statute of limitations than those generally applied
ashore. For instance, cruise lines may shorten the statute
of limitations to one year, rather than a longer period of time
allowed under state law to file a lawsuit for injuries.
Travelers should also be aware that the fine print on the
back of their cruise-ship ticket can dictate the location
where they can sue the cruise ship operator in a lawsuit for
injuries aboard the cruise ship. Cruise ship accidents and
injuries can arise from falls, food poisoning, contamination
or other disease, cruise ship collisions, sinkings, objects
falling from upper decks and assault. Some recent events
have included passenger injury with the sudden heeling of
the Crown Princess during an officer's intervention in the
operation of automatic steering gear during a turn, or the
sinking of the Sea Diamond after hitting a reef while
cruising amid volcanic islands in the Aegean Sea.
Boat Registration Offices
Here are contact numbers and offices for information about boating safety,
registration and education. More information is on the way...
Albama - Mar. Police Dp (334) 242-3673
Alaska - Alaska DMV - (907) 269-5590 - Anchorage
Arizona - Arizona Dept. of Game & Fisheries - (602) 942-3000 - Phoenix
Arkansas - OMV - (501) 682-4692 - Little Rock
California - California Dept of Motor Vehicles - 800 921-1117 (Automated Line)
Colorado - Colorado State Parks (303) 791-1920
Connecticut - DofMV (860) 263-5700
Delaware - Dept of Nat Res (302) 739-3498
Florida - Florida DMV - (850) 488-1195
Georgia - Dept of Natural Resources - Wildlife Resources Division - (770) 414-3337 - Atlanta
Idaho - State of Idaho - Parks & Recreation - Boise
Kansas - Kansas Dept of Wildlife & Parks - (620) 672-5911 - Topeka
Kentucky - Kentucky Fish & Wildlife Resources - (800) 858-1549 - Frankfurt
Indiana - Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles - (31) 615-7335 - Indianapolis
Illinois - Dep of Natural Resources - Springfield
Iowa - Dep Natural Res (515) 281-8688
Louisiana - Fisheries & Wildlife (225) 765-2898
Maryland - Nat. Res. (877) 620-8367
Michigan - Michigan Dept of State (517) 322-1460
Minnesota - Natural Resources - (651) 296-6157 - St. Paul
Mississippi - Wildlife,Fishery,Parks (601) 432-2065
Montana - Montana Dept of Justice (406) 444-2026 - Helena
Nebraska - Game & Fish Commision - (402) 471-0641 - Lincoln
Nevada - Deptmnt Motor Vehicles- (702)486-4368 Las Vegas- (775)684-4360 Reno, Carson City
New Hampshire - New Hampshire Dep of Safety Marine Patrol - (603) 293-2037
New Jersey - Dept of Mot Veh (609) 292-6500
New Mexico - New Mexico MVD (888) 683-4636
North Carolina - Wildlife Resources Commission (800) 628-3773
North Dakota - Game & Fish Department - (701) 328-6300 - Bismarck
Ohio - Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Columbus
Oklahoma - Oklahoma Deptmt Motor Vehicles - (402) 471-0641 - Oklahoma City
Oregon - State Marine Board - (503) 378-2599
South Carolina - South Carolina D of Natural Resources - (800) 829-9188
South Dakota - Deptmt of Revenue - (605) 773-3541 - Pierre
Utah - DMV - (801) 297-7780 - Salt Lake City
Vermont - Mot Vhcle (802) 828-2000
Virginia - Game & Inland Fisheries - (877) 898-2628 - Richmond
Washington - State Dep of Licensing (360) 902-3770
West Virginia - DOT (800) 642-9066 - Charleston
Wisconsin - Department of Natural Resources - (608)266-2621 - Madison
Wyoming - Wyoming Game & Fish - (307) 777-4600 - Cheyenne
In addition to assisting boaters, divers and sailors with problems throughout the nation, this
office is within local driving distance of the tri-state area, including Amagansett, Auburndale,
Babylon, Bayside, Bayshore, Bellerose, Bellmore, Brentwood, Broad Channel, Captree, College
Point, Center Moriches, Commack, Coram, Deer Park, Douglaston, Freeport, Garden City, Glen
Cove, Glendale, Glen Oaks, Great Neck, Hemsptead Harbor, Howard Beach, Holtsville,
Huntington, Islip, Jamaica Bay, Kew Gardens, Kings Park, Kings Point, Lindenhurst,
Lindenhurst, Manorhaven, Manhasset Bay, Mamaroneck, Massapequa and Massapequa Park,
Medford, Middle Village, Mineola, New City, New Rochelle, Northport, Oak Beach, Orchard
Beach, Orient Point, Oyster Bay, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Port Washington, Quogue,
Riverhead, Smithtown, St. Albans, St. James, Stony Brook, Westbury, Woodbury, Woodhaven,
Wyandanch. Public transportation is also convenient, with train, subway and bus connections
nearby. The thing about admiralty jurisdiction and law is that it can apply to something as local
as your municipal town dock and marina...or it can be a territorial location outside the
Continental United States. This office handles disputes and lawsuits arising in territories that
include Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands...St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.
Were you injured aboard one of these vessels? You may be surprised to learn that there are laws that pertain to these ships that
can affect the time period within which you may bring an action. It is typically shorter than the three year statute of limitations
associated with maritime law torts. Cruise vessels are generally registered outside the United States. They may be under the
registry of Panama or the Bahamas. These flags of registry are more attractive to cruise lines because the vessel is not subject
to United States flag jurisdiction. Other flags of convenience within the maritime industry include Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados,
Cambodia, Liberia, Malta, and the Marshall Islands. These are the vessels. Under Carnival Cruise Lines, there is Carnival
Destiny, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride, Carnival Spirit,
Carnival Triumph, Carnival Valor, Carnival Victory, Celebration, Ecstacy, Elation, Fantasy, Fascination, Holiday, Imagination,
Inspiration, Paradise, and Sensation. Under Celebrity Cruise Lines, there is the Celebrity Journey, Century, Constellation,
Galaxy, Horizon, Infinity, Mercury, Millennium, Summit and Zenith. Costa Cruises runs Costa Allegra, Costa Atlantica, Costa
Concordia, Costa Fortuna, Costa Mediterranea, and Costa Magica. Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are the vessels of
Crystal Cruises. Cunard Line runs the Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2, and Queen Victoria. Disney Cruise Lines runs Disney
Magic and Disney Wonder. Holland America Line runs Amsterdam, Maasdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Prinsendam, Rotterdam,
Ryndam, Statendam, Veenda, Volendam, Westerdam, Zaandam, and Zuiderdam. Norwegian Cruise Line runs Norwegian
Crown, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Dream, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Pearl,
Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Sun, and Norwegian Wind. P & O Cruises runs Arcadia, Artemis, Aurora, Oceana,
and Oriana. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises runs Radisson Diamond, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas
Voyager. Royal Caribbean International runs Adventure Of The Seas, Brilliance Of The Seas, Empress Of The Seas,
Enchantment Of The Seas, Explorer Of The Seas, Freedom Of The Seas, Grandeur Of The Seas, Jewel Of The Seas, Legend Of
The Seas, Majesty Of The Seas, Mariner Of The Seas, Monarch Of The Seas, Navigator Of The Seas, Radiance Of The Seas,
Rhapsody Of The Seas, Serenade Of The Seas, Sovereign Of The Seas, Splendour Of The Seas, Vision Of The Seas, and
Voyager Of The Seas. Seabourne Cruise Lines runs Seabourne Legend and Seabourne Pride.
Disclaimer - This website was written with the purpose of providing general information only. The information contained in this
website is not intended to be formal legal advice and should not be construed as such. No one should act or refrain from acting
based upon information they obtain from this website. The forwarding of a communication or correspondence to this office shall
not automatically create an attorney-client relationship, nor shall this office be liable for the confidentiality or sensitivity of
unsolicited communications or correspondences.
Tim covers the positive and negative aspects of whistleblower laws in the maritime community in the May 2012 issue of Workboat magazine. Click the link above to see the article, reprinted with the magazine's permission.
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The world was shaken by the
cruise ship accident involving
the Costa Concordia off the
coast of Isola del Giglio, in the
Tyrrhenian Sea. On January 13,
2012, the 114,000 ton cruise
ship ran aground and capsized
after being taken off its planned
course, in an attempt to sail
close to the island. While the
incident was tragic and
avoidable....
continued (click the link above)