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ICD-10 Guide
ICD-10 CodesV55.3

V55.3

Billable

Unspecified occupant of pick-up truck or van injured in collision with railway train or railway vehicle in nontraffic accident

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

Code Description

ICD-10 V55.3 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of unspecified occupant of pick-up truck or van injured in collision with railway train or railway vehicle in nontraffic accident.

Key Diagnostic Point:

The V55.3 code is used to classify injuries sustained by occupants of pick-up trucks or vans involved in collisions with railway trains or railway vehicles that occur outside of traditional traffic scenarios. This code is particularly relevant in cases where the vehicle is not on a public roadway, such as in a parking lot, private property, or other non-traffic environments. Injuries may range from minor to severe, depending on the speed of the train and the circumstances of the collision. Accurate coding is essential for tracking injury patterns, resource allocation, and public health initiatives aimed at reducing such incidents. Documentation should include details about the nature of the accident, the environment in which it occurred, and the specific injuries sustained by the occupants. This code is critical for understanding the epidemiology of nontraffic-related injuries and for implementing preventive measures in high-risk areas.

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

  • Ambiguity in documentation regarding the specifics of the accident.
  • Variability in injury severity and types, requiring detailed clinical descriptions.
  • Potential overlap with other external cause codes, necessitating careful differentiation.
  • Need for precise documentation of the accident location and circumstances.

Audit Risk Factors

  • Inadequate documentation of the accident circumstances.
  • Failure to specify the type of injuries sustained.
  • Misclassification of the accident type (traffic vs. nontraffic).
  • Lack of clarity regarding the location of the incident.

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

Emergency Medicine

Documentation Requirements

Emergency departments must document the mechanism of injury, location of the accident, and specific injuries sustained.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Patients presenting with trauma after a collision with a train while in a pick-up truck or van.

Billing Considerations

Consideration of the patient's history and the context of the accident is crucial for accurate coding.

Trauma Surgery

Documentation Requirements

Detailed trauma assessments and surgical notes must reflect the nature of injuries and the circumstances of the accident.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Trauma cases involving multiple injuries from a collision with a railway vehicle.

Billing Considerations

Injury severity scores and detailed descriptions of the mechanism of injury are essential for accurate coding.

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use V55.3 When
  • Follow the official ICD
  • CM coding guidelines, ensuring that the external cause code is used in conjunction with the appropriate injury codes
  • Document the circumstances of the accident thoroughly to support the use of V55

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use V55.3 When
No specific exclusions found.

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

99284CPT Code

Emergency department visit, high severity

Clinical Scenario

Used when a patient presents to the emergency department with injuries from a nontraffic collision.

Documentation Requirements

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

Specialty Considerations

Emergency medicine specialists 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 specific coding of external causes, including nontraffic accidents, which aids in better tracking and analysis of injury patterns.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more specific coding of external causes, including nontraffic accidents, which aids in better tracking and analysis of injury patterns.

Reimbursement & Billing Impact

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more specific coding of external causes, including nontraffic accidents, which aids in better tracking and analysis of injury patterns.

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 V55.3?

Use V55.3 when documenting injuries sustained by occupants of pick-up trucks or vans in collisions with railway trains or vehicles that occur outside of traffic scenarios. Ensure that the accident details are well-documented.