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ICD-10 Guide
ICD-10 CodesV49.20

V49.20

Billable

Unspecified car occupant injured in collision with unspecified motor vehicles in nontraffic accident

BILLABLE STATUSYes
IMPLEMENTATION DATEOctober 1, 2015
LAST UPDATED09/11/2025

Code Description

ICD-10 V49.20 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of unspecified car occupant injured in collision with unspecified motor vehicles in nontraffic accident.

Key Diagnostic Point:

The ICD-10 code V49.20 is used to classify injuries sustained by an unspecified car occupant involved in a collision with unspecified motor vehicles during a nontraffic accident. Nontraffic accidents can occur in various settings, such as private property or parking lots, where vehicles collide without being part of a public roadway incident. This code is essential for capturing data on injuries that occur outside of traditional traffic scenarios, which can help in understanding the broader context of vehicle-related injuries. Accurate coding is crucial for public health data collection, resource allocation, and injury prevention strategies. Documentation should include details about the circumstances of the accident, the type of vehicles involved, and the nature of the injuries sustained to ensure proper coding and analysis.

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

  • Ambiguity in defining 'nontraffic' versus 'traffic' accidents.
  • Variability in documentation quality regarding the specifics of the accident.
  • Potential overlap with other external cause codes that may be more specific.
  • Need for clear differentiation between types of vehicles involved.

Audit Risk Factors

  • Inadequate documentation of the accident circumstances.
  • Failure to specify the type of vehicles involved.
  • Misclassification of the accident type (traffic vs. nontraffic).
  • Inconsistent coding practices among different coders.

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

Emergency Medicine

Documentation Requirements

Emergency department notes should clearly outline the mechanism of injury, type of vehicles involved, and any relevant patient history.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Patients presenting with injuries from collisions in parking lots or private driveways.

Billing Considerations

Ensure that the documentation specifies the nontraffic nature of the accident to avoid misclassification.

Trauma Surgery

Documentation Requirements

Trauma registries should include detailed descriptions of the injury mechanism and vehicle types for accurate coding.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Trauma cases involving car occupants injured in collisions outside of public roadways.

Billing Considerations

Consider the potential for multiple injuries and the need for comprehensive documentation to support coding.

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use V49.20 When
  • According to ICD
  • 10 coding guidelines, external cause codes should be used in conjunction with the primary diagnosis code
  • It is essential to capture the context of the injury, including the location and circumstances of the accident
  • Coders should ensure that the external cause code is sequenced correctly following the primary diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use V49.20 When
No specific exclusions found.

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

99283CPT Code

Emergency department visit, moderate severity

Clinical Scenario

Used when a patient presents with injuries from a nontraffic vehicle collision.

Documentation Requirements

Document the nature of the injuries and the circumstances of the accident.

Specialty Considerations

Emergency medicine providers should ensure thorough documentation to support the visit level.

ICD-10 Impact

Diagnostic & Documentation Impact

Enhanced Specificity

ICD-10 Improvements

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more detailed coding of external causes of injuries, including nontraffic accidents. This specificity aids in better understanding and prevention of such incidents.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more detailed coding of external causes of injuries, including nontraffic accidents. This specificity aids in better understanding and prevention of such incidents.

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more detailed coding of external causes of injuries, including nontraffic accidents. This specificity aids in better understanding and prevention of such incidents.

Resources

Clinical References

  • •
    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Coding & Billing References

  • •
    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be documented to use V49.20 accurately?

Documentation should include the specifics of the accident, such as the type of vehicles involved, the location of the incident, and the nature of the injuries sustained. This information is crucial for accurate coding and analysis.