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              
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
© 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
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.  
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)