David Preszler on trust and personal attention at Preszler Injury Lawyers
David Preszler is Practice Leader at Preszler Injury Lawyers, a Canadian firm representing individuals and families injured in car accidents, slip-and-fall incidents and other cases involving negligence. Established by David Preszler’s father in 1959, the firm built its reputation through client trust and recommendations, and now also maintains an accessible online presence. Preszler discusses how the firm has expanded its reach and why clear communication and personal attention must remain central.
A firm’s reputation can bring in work, but expansion should not dilute the personal attention and clear communication clients need, especially when they are under stress.
What’s the short story of how your business started, and what makes it genuinely different from the other options your customers have?
Preszler Injury Lawyers was founded in 1959 by my father, Robert Preszler, with a simple belief that injured people deserve strong legal representation, regardless of their financial circumstances. I grew up around the practice and began learning about personal injury law long before becoming a lawyer myself.
What sets us apart is our commitment to putting clients first. We focus on helping people through some of the most difficult periods of their lives, combining decades of legal experience with personal attention, clear communication, and a genuine understanding of what they are going through.
How did you win your first customers, and where does most of your new business come from today?
Our firm’s early growth was built on trust, hard work, and the relationships my father developed while helping injured individuals. Satisfied clients sharing their experiences with friends and family played an important role in establishing our reputation.
Today, our longstanding reputation and client recommendations remain important to the business. We also recognize the value of maintaining an accessible online presence, making it easier for people to learn about their legal options and reach out when they need assistance.
What’s one decision that changed the direction of your business, and one mistake that taught you the most?
One important decision was building on our family’s legal experience while expanding our ability to serve injured clients across different parts of Canada. It allowed us to reach more people while maintaining the client-focused values on which the firm was founded.
One lesson I’ve come to appreciate is that growth should never come at the expense of personal attention. In personal injury law, clients are often dealing with uncertainty, financial pressure, and significant emotional stress. Clear communication and taking the time to understand their circumstances are just as important as the legal work itself.
What has changed in your industry or in what your customers expect over the last couple of years, and how have you adapted?
One of the biggest changes I’ve observed is how much clients value accessibility and transparency. People want to understand their rights, know what to expect from the legal process, and receive clear answers without unnecessary complications.
We’ve continued to emphasize straightforward communication and making legal assistance easier to access. While technology has changed how people discover and communicate with law firms, I believe the fundamentals remain the same: clients need experienced legal guidance, honest advice, and someone who genuinely cares about their situation.
If you were advising someone starting out in your industry today, what would you tell them to do first, and what would you tell them to ignore?
My advice would be to focus on becoming an excellent lawyer before worrying about building a recognizable name. Find experienced mentors, understand your clients’ needs, and take every opportunity to develop your legal skills. Reputation is built over time through consistent work and the trust you earn from the people you represent.
I’d encourage young lawyers to ignore the pressure to achieve overnight success. Personal injury law requires patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to stand up for people during difficult circumstances. If you consistently prioritize your clients and your professional development, you’re building the right foundation.
Thank you to David Preszler and the team at Preszler Injury Lawyers for sharing what actually worked with Leaders Perception readers.
Want to tell the story behind your business?
Leaders Perception publishes interviews with business owners and leaders every week. Five questions, about ten minutes, no calls. It is free and every completed interview gets published.