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ICD-10 Coding for Car Accident(V43.52XA, S06.0X0A)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Car Accident. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Motor Vehicle AccidentTraffic Collision

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Car Accident

V40-V49Primary Range

Car occupant injured in transport accident

This range covers all scenarios where a car occupant is injured in a transport accident, including collisions with other vehicles and stationary objects.

Injuries to specific body parts

This range is used to code specific injuries resulting from the car accident, such as fractures or concussions.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
V43.52XADriver of car injured in collision with truck, initial encounterUse when the patient is the driver injured in a collision with a truck.
  • Documentation of the driver status
  • Details of the collision with a truck
S06.0X0AConcussion without loss of consciousness, initial encounterUse when a concussion is diagnosed without loss of consciousness.
  • Glasgow Coma Scale score
  • CT scan results

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for car accident

Essential facts and insights about Car Accident

The ICD-10 code for a car accident depends on the specifics of the incident, such as V43.52XA for a driver in a collision with a truck.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for car accident

Driver of car injured in collision with truck, initial encounter
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Patient is the driver involved in a collision with a truck.

documentation Criteria

  • Accurate documentation of the collision details and driver status.

Applicable To

  • Driver injured in collision with truck

Excludes

  • Passenger injured in collision with truck

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Documentation of the driver status
  • Details of the collision with a truck

Code-Specific Risks

  • Incorrectly coding as a passenger
  • Missing details of the collision

Coding Notes

  • Ensure the encounter type is correctly documented with the 7th character.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Concussion without loss of consciousness, initial encounter

S06.0X0A
Use to specify a concussion resulting from the accident.

Driver of car injured in collision with truck, initial encounter

V43.52XA
Use to specify the external cause of the concussion.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Passenger of car injured in collision with truck, initial encounter

V43.62XA
Use when the patient is a passenger, not the driver.

Concussion with loss of consciousness of 30 minutes or less, initial encounter

S06.0X1A
Use if there was a documented loss of consciousness.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Car Accident to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code V43.52XA.

Impact

Clinical: Incomplete clinical picture of the accident., Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Financial: Potential claim denials.

Mitigation Strategy

Always pair injury codes with external cause codes., Review documentation for accident details.

Impact

Reimbursement: Leads to claim denials or reduced reimbursement., Compliance: Non-compliance with payer requirements., Data Quality: Poor data quality for injury statistics.

Mitigation Strategy

Always specify the type of vehicle and the role of the patient (driver/passenger).

Impact

High risk of audit for using unspecified codes in car accidents.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure all codes are as specific as possible, documenting all relevant details.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Car Accident, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Car Accident

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Car Accident. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Emergency Department Note for Car Accident

Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Required Elements

  • Mechanism of injury
  • Injury details
  • External cause
  • Encounter type

Example Documentation

Driver in 45 mph frontal collision with guardrail (airbag deployed). Glasgow Coma Scale 14, LOC 2 mins. CT head negative. C-spine MRI shows C5-C6 ligamentous injury.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient in car accident. Leg pain.
Good Documentation Example
Passenger in front-impact collision at 35 mph. Acute displaced midshaft fracture left femur (CT-confirmed). Initial encounter for fracture management.
Explanation
The good example provides specific details about the accident and injury, supporting accurate coding.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Car Accident? Ask your questions below.

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