Legal Team
Israel Garcia
Personal Injury Attorney
“I handle personal injury cases for clients and their families by caring for each client as if each person is my family. I focus on understanding you, your story, your pain, and struggles through your eyes and the eyes of your loved ones, so that I truly know and feel how you and your life have changed. Then, I can tell your story in a way that the responsible party and jury feel the devastating losses suffered by you and your family. If it is important to you, it is important me. It is one thing to say it, and it is another thing to live it.
You see, in 2011, I was in a car accident caused by a careless driver. I suffered life-changing injuries – chronic neck and back pain. Every minute and every day since, I have struggled and continue to struggle with constant pain, the loss of some of the important parts of and relationships in my life, and the realization that I will never be the person that I once was. I use this pain to fuel my passion to understand more deeply what each person and their loved ones have been through, to feel your pain, and to show your story at a deep, emotional level that resonates with everyone who hears and sees it. So, my calling, my passion, the reason why God put me on this earth and through these struggles is to help those who suffer as I have suffered and more and to provide them hope – to make a difference.”
-Israel Garcia, Personal Injury Lawyer
In 2003, Israel graduated from Baylor University School of Law (No. 2 Trial Advocacy Program in the Country according to U.S. News Law School Rankings). Upon graduating, Israel returned to his hometown of San Antonio and accepted a job with the largest law firm in San Antonio. In 2005, Israel opened the Law Office of Israel Garcia – a practice dedicated to helping the “little guy.”
In 2009, Israel was recognized by San Antonio Scene as a “Rising Star”.
In 2010, Israel was one of 55 lawyers in the nation selected to attend the highly prestigious Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College where he got to live and work for almost a full month with legendary trial lawyer Gerry Spence and his staff at Thunderhead Ranch, Dubois, Wyoming (Nationally recognized by his peers, as the Best Trial Lawyers College in the Country). Since graduating, Israel has spent thousands of hours training with Gerry Spence, his staff, graduates, and psychodrama directors at programs and workshops throughout the nation. Israel is the director of the San Antonio Alumni Local Working Group and is often asked to consult and to assist other lawyers with witness and trial preparation.
In 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019, Israel was recognized by San Antonio Scene as one of the Top Lawyers as Chosen by their Peers, Personal Injury Plaintiffs.
In 2018, Israel and his legal team obtained one of the Top 10 Jury Verdicts in Texas in the practice area of Personal Injury according to TopVerdict.com. In this case, a jury saw what our client had before the car accident and what was taken away from him. With their verdict, they said, “we hear you; we see what you lost; we care.”
In 2019, Israel was certified as a life member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Million Dollar Advocates Forum is recognized as one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers (fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members).
Over the past 17 years, Israel has gained extensive experience representing victims of serious injuries, including car accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, company vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, brain injuries, and wrongful death.
“Israel Garcia is a true fighter in the courtroom. I had the great opportunity to train with Israel at the best trial college in the country. I was able to see his knowledge and skill first hand in the field of personal injury and he is a force! I recommend him to anyone that needs help after being injured.”
–Elliott H. Jung, Partner, Hepburn, Hernandez and Jung Trial Attorneys
Other Professional Associations: San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Mexican American Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation, San Antonio Young Lawyers Association (Board of Directors from 2004-2010), Texas Young Lawyers Association (Board of Directors from 2004-2010).
Desirea N. Levy
Paralegal | Case Manager
Desirea began the pursuit of her life’s goal in the legal community in 2013. She earned a prominent internship at a well-known and highly recommended local law firm. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from UTSA in 2013 with a major in Criminal Justice. Subsequently, she attended Paralegal Courses and obtained her certificate in December of 2013. Her hard work and dedication paid off as she worked her way up from an Internship to a full-time Paralegal position. She worked on every aspect of each case assigned to her, from the bottom up, putting in due diligence through the various positions entrusted to her. These positions ranged from intake specialist, medical records coordinator, legal secretary, pre-litigation paralegal and finally litigation paralegal. She appreciates each of those opportunities as they make her the paralegal she is today. They have helped her hone her craft and her passion. She now has the complete confidence of the attorneys working on the case alongside her to handle it from beginning to end.
Her personal injury career began due to her passion for helping others find Justice when wronged. Individuals with a personal injury claim are dealing with injuries, medical appointments, adjusting to the situation and the outcome of how their lives have changed temporarily or permanently – leaving them exhausted mentally and emotionally. Victims that are hurt due to a motor vehicle accident or other personal injury claim are dealing with the daily frustration of having pain and then the added stress of a damaged or un-drivable vehicle. She enjoys being able to help them in a way that can take the worry and frustration out of the long and drawn out process by handling this matter for them against the insurance company. She can evaluate each case and assist in determining the best course of medical treatment for each individual and his or her injuries. Her strong work ethic and determination has made her an invaluable addition to the firm. She helps our clients on their road to recovery and follows-up with them as they move forward in their treatment. Desirea’s goal is to advocate for them in every way possible, to lessen the worry, and to allow them to concentrate on their wellbeing.
Personal Experience
In March of 2017, she found herself involved in an auto accident when she was hit by an 18-wheeler. She was a victim to an unwanted injury, and can relate to her clients. She sustained multiple injuries; including multiple herniated discs and disc bulges throughout her spine. She has faced, head on, many of the same intense physical and emotional injuries that her current clients are going through and has undergone the same or similar treatment, like physical therapy, chiropractic services, pain management, and a surgical consultation and recommendation. She has performed all of the steps a client may or may not go through and can relate both physically and emotionally. “I understand that your life changes in every aspect and most people, regardless of their profession, may not understand. I also know what it feels like to live in pain, as I still suffer the pain from my injuries to this day.”
