A firm of solicitors has settled professional negligence claims brought against it by two motorcyclists who were injured after their bikes skidded in a large diesel slick on the road.

Grace & Co, a Warrington-based firm of solicitors specialising in personal injury, advised the motorcyclists that they were not entitled to compensation for the injuries they had sustained.

The Claimants later learned about the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) which compensates victims of accidents caused by negligent untraced road users, and sued Grace & Co for failing to advise them appropriately.

The bikers were represented by Andrew Campbell, a personal injury lawyer and head of the motorcycle law unit at Withy King Solicitors.

The case was finally settled last week for a significant five-figure sum after a three-year battle.

Andrew Campbell said: “I am delighted for my clients that they have finally won their right to compensation, deprived of them since their accidents in 2000.

“It is unfortunate that cases like these still cross my desk but the message is now getting through to solicitors that the scope of the MIB goes beyond simply compensating victims of “hit and run” and uninsured drivers.

"A person that has been injured as a result of a diesel (or other fuel) spill, and sought personal injury advice from solicitors but was not informed about the MIB, may be entitled to significant compensation from those solicitors should the three year period for making an application to the MIB have expired. “