A Charleston man is seeking justice after he was allegedly assaulted by his Uber driver in a parking lot on King Street. The assault, which was caught on camera, left Bryan Kobel unconscious and with brain injuries, including amnesia. Now, Kobel has filed a lawsuit against both Uber and the driver involved, Vadim Uliumdzhiev, who was reportedly in the U.S. illegally from Russia.
The Incident and Assault
The incident took place on April 24, when Kobel, after a dinner outing, ordered an Uber ride. According to Kobel, the situation escalated when the driver refused to take him with his service dog. Kobel claims that he attempted to have the ride canceled before exiting the vehicle, but things quickly spiraled out of control. The video footage of the assault shows Kobel unconscious on the ground after being punched in the head. Kobel later woke up in the hospital with severe brain injuries and amnesia, unable to remember the events of the following 48 hours.
Lawsuit and Allegations Against Uber
In his lawsuit, Kobel is claiming that the assault occurred due to Uber’s failure to properly vet the driver. According to Kobel, law enforcement informed him that the driver, Uliumdzhiev, was using a fake driver’s license. The lawsuit also alleges that Uber’s failure to conduct proper background checks contributed to the attack, highlighting the importance of stricter regulations for rideshare companies.
Kobel’s attorney, Kenneth Berger, expressed frustration over the lack of due diligence from Uber, saying, “If it took our office, a law office, 10 minutes to figure this out or less, how could a multinational corporation with billions of dollars and assets not take the time to do the same?”
The Aftermath and Kobel’s Recovery
In the months following the attack, Kobel has struggled to return to his normal routine. He described his recovery as harrowing, with difficulties such as memory loss, trouble stringing sentences together, and a lack of focus. “It was the most harrowing period of time of my life by far,” Kobel said.
Despite his challenges, Kobel hopes that his lawsuit will help prompt changes in the rideshare industry to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. He emphasized that his situation could have been avoided with better background checks for Uber drivers.
Driver’s Legal Status and Charges
Uliumdzhiev has been charged with second-degree assault and battery, with his second court appearance scheduled for October. Kobel’s legal team is hopeful that the case will serve as a catalyst for change in the rideshare industry’s safety protocols.
Uber’s Statement
In response to the incident, Uber released a statement saying, “There is no place for violence on the Uber platform. While we can’t comment on pending litigation, Uber is deeply committed to safety and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations around worker eligibility.”
Call for Action in the Rideshare Industry
Kobel’s case underscores the need for better safety measures and thorough background checks for rideshare drivers. It also sheds light on the potential dangers passengers may face when using rideshare services and the lack of accountability for companies that prioritize convenience over safety.
