Raphael Ortega

Houston Personal Injury Trial Lawyer

My goal has always been simple: to be the toughest lawyer in the room when justice is on the line. For more than a decade, I prosecuted major felony cases, advocating for the most vulnerable members of my community and building cases where outcomes depended on precision, credibility, and execution under pressure.

That perspective deepened when a car crash threatened my life and the lives of my children. It changed how I see these cases – and how I handle them today.

The Turning Point

I was raised by a hardworking single mother in Washington Heights, New York. Growing up in that environment, I saw my neighbors dealing with hardship, poverty, and a system that didn’t always feel fair. Those experiences shaped my decision to become a lawyer and build a career advocating for people like my mother.

As a prosecutor in New Jersey and Texas, I learned how the system works from the inside. But my perspective on the law changed forever on the side of a road.

When It Became Personal

My path into personal injury law did not begin in a courtroom. It began after a serious car crash involving me and my children. Fortunately, none of us suffered life-threatening injuries. But we faced months of physical therapy and many sleepless nights for my boys, who were traumatized by the accident..

Despite being a seasoned trial attorney, I suddenly found myself navigating hospital bills, lien claims, uninsured motorist issues, and insurance negotiations that often felt designed to wear people down. I learned that the insurance system was never designed to make things easy.

That experience showed me how overwhelming the system can be for families trying to recover after a crash. It also changed my perspective on the practice of law. I fought relentlessly to protect my boys, and today I bring that same fierce advocacy to every client we represent at Diamond Injury Law.

Single Vehicle accident lawyer

A Trial-Ready Approach

My background as a prosecutor gives our clients a unique advantage. For more than a decade, I prosecuted major felony cases across multiple jurisdictions on behalf of victims whose lives had been turned upside down. That experience shaped how I approach every case today: strategy, preparation, and relentless advocacy.

Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to prepare cases for trial—and which ones are not. At Diamond Injury Law, every case is handled with the preparation and attention it deserves.

As a native Spanish speaker, I represent clients from all across Houston and the surrounding communities. I believe accident victims deserve more than being treated like a file number passed from one desk to another.

Our firm is built on accountability, meaningful communication, and securing the compensation our clients need to move forward.

Life Beyond the Courtroom

Outside the office, my life revolves around my wife and our four boys. We stay busy with youth sports and school activities. I also enjoy the culinary arts and mentoring young students through mock trial programs, helping the next generation develop confidence and find their voice in the courtroom.

These experiences keep me grounded and remind me why this work matters—because behind every case is a family trying to move forward after one of the most difficult moments of their lives.

EDUCATION
  • Indiana University, McKinney School of Law (2011)
    • J.D., Advocacy Skills Concentration
    • Moot Court Order of the Barristers
    • Norman Lefstein Pro Bono Award of Excellence
  • Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (2005)
    • B.A., Sociology and Political Science
BAR ADMISSIONS
  • Texas
  • Florida
  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
HONORS
  • Texas Bar College
  • Moot Court Order of the Barristers
  • American Bar Association (ABA) Business Law Fellow (2017-2019)
  • FINRA Attorney Arbitrator
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Criminal Law
    • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA)
    • Montgomery County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (MCCDLA)
    • National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NACDA)
    • American Bar Association (ABA) – Criminal Justice Section
  • Immigration
    • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
    • The National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG)
    • The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
  • Local Bar Associations
    • Montgomery County Bar Association (MCBA) Woodlands Bar Association