California woman says Uber driver broke her jaw
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A 29-year-old woman in Los Angeles said Tuesday she was suing Uber after her driver punched her in the face, shattering her jaw, during a heated argument she recorded on her phone.
Warning: Video contains profanity
Uber told KNBC it reviewed the accusations before cutting ties with the driver and pledging to assist Los Angeles police. Cops said the driver had also accused his passenger of battery.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The alleged attack happened in the early hours of New Year's Day. Krystal Ortiz said she'd arranged for the ride after she was drinking at a Hollywood party.
Ortiz reportedly said her driver suddenly yelled at her over a conversation she was having with another passenger. Eventually the driver called her "confrontational" and kicked her out of the car, she told KTLA.
There was no response from the driver.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An attorney said the woman was afraid to get out of the car because she didn't know the neighborhood where they stopped. Ortiz started recording her fight with the driver on her phone.
The woman claimed he punched her both inside and outside the car, forcing doctors to perform reconstructive surgery.
Her attorney, Ernest Algorri, said they were pursuing civil and criminal action against both Uber and the driver. "This is a terrible situation and we take matters involving the safety of everyone who uses the Uber platform very seriously," the company told KNBC.