Struck accidentally by falling object

This code signifies an injury sustained when an individual is unintentionally hit by an object that is falling from above. This includes incidents where gravity causes an object to drop and strike a person, resulting in trauma. The injury is a direct consequence of the impact from the falling item.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states an injury occurred due to being struck by a falling object, such as a tool dropping from a shelf, a tree branch falling, or debris from a construction site. The medical record should specify the mechanism of injury as an accidental impact from a downward-moving object.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "accidental" to differentiate from intentional acts.
• Always code the nature of the injury (e.g., fracture, contusion) first, followed by this E-code as a supplementary code to describe the external cause.
• Distinguish from being struck by an object that is thrown or propelled horizontally, which would fall under different E-codes.