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ICD-10 Guide
ICD-10 CodesV49.49

V49.49

Billable

Driver injured in collision with other motor vehicles in traffic accident

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

Code Description

ICD-10 V49.49 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of driver injured in collision with other motor vehicles in traffic accident.

Key Diagnostic Point:

The ICD-10 code V49.49 is used to classify injuries sustained by a driver involved in a collision with other motor vehicles during a traffic accident. This code captures the external cause of morbidity and mortality related to vehicular accidents, which are a significant public health concern. Traffic accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor abrasions to severe trauma, including fractures, head injuries, and internal injuries. Accurate coding of these incidents is crucial for understanding the epidemiology of traffic-related injuries, guiding public health interventions, and ensuring appropriate reimbursement for healthcare services. Documentation should include details about the circumstances of the accident, the type of vehicles involved, and the nature of the injuries sustained. This code is essential for trauma registries and public health data collection, as it helps identify trends and inform safety measures.

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

  • Variability in injury severity and types of injuries sustained
  • Need for detailed documentation of the accident circumstances
  • Potential for multiple external cause codes to be applicable
  • Differentiation between driver and passenger injuries

Audit Risk Factors

  • Inadequate documentation of the accident details
  • Failure to capture all relevant external cause codes
  • Misclassification of the driver versus passenger injuries
  • Inconsistent reporting of injury severity

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

Emergency Medicine

Documentation Requirements

Emergency department notes should include the mechanism of injury, patient history, and any pre-existing conditions that may affect treatment.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Patients presenting with lacerations, fractures, or concussions following a vehicular accident.

Billing Considerations

Ensure that the mechanism of injury is clearly documented to support the use of V49.49.

Trauma Surgery

Documentation Requirements

Detailed operative reports and trauma assessments should include the nature of injuries and the circumstances of the accident.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Patients requiring surgical intervention for traumatic injuries sustained in a traffic accident.

Billing Considerations

Accurate coding is critical for trauma registries and may influence quality metrics.

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use V49.49 When
  • According to ICD
  • 10 coding guidelines, external cause codes should be used in conjunction with the corresponding injury codes
  • It is important to report the external cause code to provide context for the injury and to follow the guidelines for sequencing these codes appropriately

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use V49.49 When
No specific exclusions found.

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

99284CPT Code

Emergency department visit, high severity

Clinical Scenario

Used for patients presenting with significant injuries from a traffic accident.

Documentation Requirements

Document the nature of the injuries and the treatment provided.

Specialty Considerations

Emergency medicine specialists should ensure thorough documentation to support the level of service.

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, improving data collection and analysis for traffic-related injuries. V49.49 provides specificity that was not available in ICD-9.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more detailed coding of external causes of injuries, improving data collection and analysis for traffic-related injuries. V49.49 provides specificity that was not available in ICD-9.

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

reimbursement.

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

When should I use V49.49?

Use V49.49 when coding for injuries sustained by a driver in a traffic accident involving other motor vehicles. Ensure that the documentation supports the circumstances of the accident.