Biotech CEO sues Uber after violent attack by driver in South Carolina

Biotech CEO Bryan Kobel is suing Uber after allegedly being violently attacked by a driver in South Carolina. The incident, caught on video, left him with severe injuries. Authorities say the driver was undocumented and used a fake ID. The lawsuit questions Uber’s passenger safety and identity verification processes.

A biotech CEO has filed a lawsuit against Uber after allegedly being assaulted by a driver during a ride in South Carolina. The incident, captured on video and now widely shared online, shows 45-year-old Bryan Kobel being attacked while accompanied by his service dog.

The confrontation occurred when Kobel tried to board the vehicle with his dog, leading to an altercation with the driver, identified as 42-year-old Russian national Uliumdzhiev Vadim Nikolaevich. The footage shows Nikolaevich exiting his car, grabbing Kobel by the throat, and headbutting and punching him. Kobel’s dog was knocked to the ground during the scuffle, while witnesses quickly called 911 for emergency help.

According to police records, Kobel sustained a severe concussion and required seven staples to close his wounds. Witnesses reported heavy bleeding, and one described the scene as “traumatic” while requesting urgent medical assistance. Despite the seriousness of the attack, the driver allegedly picked up another ride shortly afterward.

Kobel later told Fox News that his Uber account was suspended and then deactivated within two days of the incident, despite providing hospital and police documentation. He accused Uber of victim-blaming instead of offering support after the assault.

Authorities revealed that Nikolaevich was living in the US illegally and had been using fraudulent identification to drive for the platform. He was arrested, charged with assault and battery, and later released on a $10,000 bond.

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Through his attorney, Kobel is demanding accountability from Uber, questioning how an undocumented individual with a fake license was allowed access to the company’s platform. The lawsuit alleges that Uber failed to ensure adequate passenger safety despite its responsibility as a global, publicly traded company.