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ICD-10 Guide
ICD-10 CodesV49.4

V49.4

Billable

Driver injured in collision with other and unspecified motor vehicles in traffic accident

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

Code Description

ICD-10 V49.4 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of driver injured in collision with other and unspecified motor vehicles in traffic accident.

Key Diagnostic Point:

The ICD-10 code V49.4 is used to classify injuries sustained by a driver involved in a traffic accident where the collision occurs with other motor vehicles or unspecified vehicles. This code is crucial for capturing the external cause of morbidity and mortality related to road traffic accidents, which are a significant public health concern. Accurate coding of such incidents helps in understanding the epidemiology of traffic-related injuries, guiding preventive measures, and allocating resources for trauma care. 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 often used in emergency departments, trauma centers, and rehabilitation facilities to track and manage the care of injured drivers.

Code Complexity Analysis

Complexity Rating: Medium

Medium Complexity

Complexity Factors

  • Variability in documentation quality from different healthcare providers
  • Need for precise details about the accident circumstances
  • Differentiation between types of vehicles involved
  • Potential for multiple injuries requiring additional codes

Audit Risk Factors

  • Inadequate documentation of the accident details
  • Failure to specify the type of vehicle involved
  • Incorrect linkage of injuries to the external cause code
  • Use of the code without supporting clinical evidence

Specialty Focus

Medical Specialties

Emergency Medicine

Documentation Requirements

Emergency physicians must document the mechanism of injury, vehicle types, and patient presentation clearly. Details about the accident scene and any witnesses should also be included.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Common scenarios include drivers involved in multi-vehicle collisions, single-vehicle accidents with other vehicles present, and hit-and-run incidents.

Billing Considerations

Emergency departments should ensure that all relevant details are captured in the initial assessment to support accurate coding.

Trauma Surgery

Documentation Requirements

Trauma surgeons need comprehensive documentation of the injuries sustained, surgical interventions performed, and the mechanism of injury.

Common Clinical Scenarios

Trauma cases often involve severe injuries from high-speed collisions, necessitating detailed coding for both the injuries and the external cause.

Billing Considerations

Trauma documentation should include the patient's trajectory through the healthcare system, from emergency care to surgical intervention.

Coding Guidelines

Inclusion Criteria

Use V49.4 When
  • Coders should refer to the ICD
  • CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, particularly Section I
  • 19, which addresses external cause codes
  • It is essential to report the external cause code in conjunction with the injury codes to provide a complete picture of the patient's condition

Exclusion Criteria

Do NOT use V49.4 When
No specific exclusions found.

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

99284CPT Code

Emergency department visit, high severity

Clinical Scenario

Used when a driver presents to the ED with injuries from a traffic accident.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation must support the level of service, including history, examination, and medical decision-making.

Specialty Considerations

Emergency medicine providers should ensure that the visit is well-documented to justify the CPT code.

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, improving the granularity of data collected on traffic accidents. This specificity aids in better understanding and addressing public health issues related to road safety.

ICD-9 vs ICD-10

The transition to ICD-10 has allowed for more specific coding of external causes, improving the granularity of data collected on traffic accidents. This specificity aids in better understanding and addressing public health issues related to road safety.

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

What should I document to support the use of V49.4?

Document the specifics of the accident, including the type of vehicles involved, the circumstances leading to the collision, and the nature of the injuries sustained. This information is crucial for accurate coding and billing.