V70-V79
Medium Complexity
Car occupant injured in transport accident
Primary Specialty: Emergency Medicine
Last Updated: 2025-09-09
ICD-10 Codes (104)
0 billable95 category headers
V71V71.0V71.1V71.2V71.3V71.4V71.5V71.6V71.7V71.9V72V72.0V72.1V72.2V72.3V72.4V72.5V72.6V72.7V72.9V73V73.0V73.1V73.2V73.3V73.4V73.5V73.6V73.7V73.9V74V74.0V74.1V74.2V74.3V74.4V74.5V74.6V74.7V74.9V75V75.0V75.1V75.2V75.3V75.4V75.5V75.6V75.7V75.9V76V76.0V76.1V76.2V76.3V76.4V76.5V76.6V76.7V76.9V77V77.0V77.1V77.2V77.3V77.4V77.5V77.6V77.7V77.9V78V78.0V78.1V78.2V78.3V78.4V78.5V78.6V78.7V78.9V79V79.0V79.00V79.09V79.1V79.10V79.19V79.2V79.20V79.29V79.3V79.4V79.40V79.49V79.5V79.50V79.59V79.6V79.60V79.69V79.8V79.81V79.88V79.9Updates & Changes
FY 2026 Updates
Current Year
Deleted Codes
No codes deleted in this range for FY 2026
No significant changes for FY 2026
This range maintains stability with current coding practices
Historical Changes
- •FY 2025: Routine maintenance updates with minor terminology clarifications
- •FY 2024: Enhanced specificity requirements for certain code ranges
- •FY 2023: Updated documentation guidelines for improved clarity
Upcoming Changes
- •Proposed updates pending review by Coordination and Maintenance Committee
- •Under consideration: Enhanced digital health integration codes
Implementation Guidance
- •Review all FY 2026 updates for V70-V79 codes before implementation
- •Always verify the most current codes in the ICD-10-CM manual
- •Ensure clinical documentation supports the selected diagnosis codes
- +3 more guidance items...
Range Overview
high priority
The ICD-10 code range V70-V79 is dedicated to injuries sustained by car occupants in transport accidents. These codes are used to document the nature of the injury, the type of vehicle involved, and the circumstances of the accident. They cover a wide spectrum of injuries, from minor cuts and bruises to severe trauma, and are crucial for epidemiological studies, insurance claims, and health policy planning.
Key Usage Points:
- •Always code the most specific injury and its location.
- •Include additional codes for any associated complications or comorbidities.
- •Use the external cause code to document the circumstances of the accident.
- •Remember to code the status of the patient (driver, passenger, etc.).
- •Use the seventh character for subsequent visits or sequela.
Coding Guidelines
When to Use:
- ✓When a patient presents with injuries sustained in a car accident.
- ✓When documenting the cause of death in a fatal car accident.
- ✓When coding for follow-up visits related to a car accident injury.
- ✓When coding for late effects of injuries sustained in a car accident.
When NOT to Use:
- ✗When the patient is a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car.
- ✗When the patient was injured in a non-traffic accident.
- ✗When the injury is unrelated to a car accident.
- ✗When the patient is a motorcyclist.
Code Exclusions
Always verify exclusions with the patient's medical record and the official ICD-10-CM guidelines.
Documentation Requirements
Documentation for V70-V79 codes should be comprehensive, detailing the nature and extent of the injuries, the circumstances of the accident, and the patient's status at the time of the accident. It should also include any associated complications or comorbidities.
Clinical Information:
- •Detailed description of the injuries.
- •Patient's status at the time of the accident (driver, passenger, etc.).
- •Circumstances of the accident.
- •Any associated complications or comorbidities.
- •Any late effects of the injuries.
Supporting Evidence:
- •Emergency department report.
- •Radiology reports.
- •Surgical reports.
- •Follow-up visit notes.
Good Documentation Example:
Patient, a driver, involved in a head-on collision with another car, sustained a closed fracture of the right femur. No other injuries or complications.
Poor Documentation Example:
Car accident, broken leg.
Common Documentation Errors:
- âš Not specifying the patient's status at the time of the accident.
- âš Not documenting the circumstances of the accident.
- âš Not coding for associated complications or comorbidities.
- âš Not using the seventh character for subsequent visits or sequela.
Range Statistics
10
Total Codes
0
Billable
Complexity:
Medium
Primary Use:Clinical Documentation
Chapter:20
Coding Complexity
Medium
Complexity Rating
While the coding for individual injuries is straightforward, the complexity arises from the need to accurately document the circumstances of the accident, the patient's status, and any associated complications or comorbidities. Additionally, the use of the seventh character for subsequent visits or sequela adds another layer of complexity.
Key Factors:
- â–¸Determining the patient's status at the time of the accident.
- â–¸Coding for multiple injuries.
- â–¸Coding for associated complications or comorbidities.
- â–¸Using the seventh character for subsequent visits or sequela.
Specialty Focus
These codes are primarily used by emergency medicine, orthopedics, and trauma surgery, but can also be used by any specialty treating patients with injuries sustained in car accidents.
Primary Specialties:
Emergency Medicine
40%
Orthopedics
30%
Trauma Surgery
20%
Clinical Scenarios:
- • Patient presents to the ED with a head injury after a car accident.
- • Patient is seen in orthopedics clinic for follow-up of a fracture sustained in a car accident.
- • Patient is admitted to the hospital for surgery after a car accident.
- • Patient presents to the ED with chest pain after a car accident.
Resources & References
The official ICD-10-CM guidelines and the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics are the primary resources for coding and documentation requirements. Additionally, specialty-specific resources can provide further guidance.
Official Guidelines:
- ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
- CDC's National Center for Health Statistics
Clinical References:
Educational Materials:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I code for a patient who was injured in a car accident but was not the driver or a passenger?
If the patient was a pedestrian or a cyclist, use the V00-V09 range. If the patient was a motorcyclist, use the V20-V29 range.