Accidental hit, strike, kick, twist, bite or scratch by another person (W50) ICD-10-CM
The W50 code range covers accidental hit, strike, kick, twist, bite or scratch by another person with 21 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 15 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
- hit, strike, kick, twist, bite, or scratch by another person NOS
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W50
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Codes in the W50 Range 21 codes · 15 billable
- W50 Accidental hit, strike, kick, twist, bite or scratch by another personNon-billable
- W50.0 Accidental hit or strike by another personNon-billable
- W50.0XXA Accidental hit or strike by another person, initial encounter
- W50.0XXD Accidental hit or strike by another person, subsequent encounter
- W50.0XXS Accidental hit or strike by another person, sequela
- W50.1 Accidental kick by another personNon-billable
- W50.1XXA Accidental kick by another person, initial encounter
- W50.1XXD Accidental kick by another person, subsequent encounter
- W50.1XXS Accidental kick by another person, sequela
- W50.2 Accidental twist by another personNon-billable
- W50.2XXA Accidental twist by another person, initial encounter
- W50.2XXD Accidental twist by another person, subsequent encounter
- W50.2XXS Accidental twist by another person, sequela
- W50.3 Accidental bite by another personNon-billable
- W50.3XXA Accidental bite by another person, initial encounter
- W50.3XXD Accidental bite by another person, subsequent encounter
- W50.3XXS Accidental bite by another person, sequela
- W50.4 Accidental scratch by another personNon-billable
- W50.4XXA Accidental scratch by another person, initial encounter
- W50.4XXD Accidental scratch by another person, subsequent encounter
- W50.4XXS Accidental scratch by another person, sequela
About the W50 Code Range
The W50 ICD-10 codes are used to classify injuries resulting from accidental physical interactions caused by another person, such as being hit, kicked, twisted, bitten, or scratched without intent to harm. These codes help specify the nature of the incident and the injury's treatment phase, such as initial encounter, follow-up, or ongoing complications.
The main category W50 covers general accidental hits, strikes, kicks, twists, bites, or scratches inflicted by another person. For example, the code W50.0 pertains specifically to accidental hits or strikes and includes detailed subcodes like W50.0XXA for initial care after being accidentally struck during sports activities. Injuries from accidental kicks fall under W50.1, while twists, bites, and scratches correspond to W50.2, W50.3, and W50.4, respectively. Notably, W50.3 relates to human bites and their various wound locations, using synonyms like "human bite" or "bite wound," aiding accurate coding for these specific wounds. These codes assist both healthcare providers and coders in documenting unintentional injuries caused by others, ensuring clarity for clinical and billing purposes.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the W50 range?
Of the 21 codes in this range, 15 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the W50 range classify?
The range classifies accidental hit, strike, kick, twist, bite or scratch by another person. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
