Located near the western end of Long Island Sound, this law firm provides marine legal
assistance and services 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:          
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.
Recall Information about a
recreational watercraft...go
to What's New to read
more...

The Omaha, Nebraska
company Sportsstuff, Inc. is
voluntarily recalling about
19,000 of its Wego Kite
Tubes, a watercraft
designed to be towed
behind a powerboat. This
was announced in a July
13, 2006 press release
from the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission
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.  
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.
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
Go to Maritime Law,   
Recreational Boating, to see
Maritime Law and Sailing, by
Tim Akpinar, from the October
2005 issue of 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.
Maritime Attorney Tim Akpinar - New York - Long Island - Maritime Lawyer
Jones Act Seamen - Boating Accident - Commercial Fishermen - Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer - Marine Legal Assistance
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.
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.
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.
"A Former Engine Room Officer Who Will Fight Hard For Your Rights"
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.
NEW... from 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.
(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
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.
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.
New, from the October 2007 issue
of Workboat Magazine...The Law of
Maritime Collision, by Tim Akpinar;
reprinted with the permission of
Workboat Magazine.

Use the menu bar to the left to go
to the page Commercial Vessels.
There is a link to the article there.
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