Paul Van Dyk Paid $12 Million In Damages Over 2016 Stage Fall

Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images – Paul van Dyk live on stage at
The EDM Festival is held at the former U.S. rocket base Pydna in Kastellaun, Germany

Three years ago, German DJ superstar Paul van Dyk suffered a severe accident at A State Of Trance Festival in Utrecht, Holland, and sued promoter Alda Events. He sued Alda for damages in the U.S., where an arbitration court has sided with him and set damages at $12,588,643.

According to theblast.com, the sum included $2 million for future medical expenses, $1.2 million for lost profits in 2016/2017 and $2.47 million for losses in the next 10 years.

Van Dyk said during a keynote interview at Amsterdam Dance Event 2018 that his ability to perform had been permanently impaired by the accident.

During his 2016 set at A State Of Trance Festival, Van Dyk fell through a hole in the stage, which hadn’t been properly secured or marked. He fell several meters and suffered severe spine and brain injuries.

Reports at the time stated that van Dyk had been lucky under the circumstances, since the Utrecht Medical Center are renowned for its expertise in neuroscience. 

Van Dyk performs again, but said at ADE 2018, that he had to shorten his sets post-accident. He also said that no one from Alda Events had ever reached out to him to apologize or explain.

Update: Alda Events provided the following statement to Pollstar:  “The accident of Paul van Dyk was very unfortunate. We are not entering into a public discussion regarding the background or consequences.”