Insurance company is basically calling me a liar after a deer strike — what do I do?

The 'prior impact' thing happened to me too — my insurer tried to use telematics data to imply I'd already been in an accident before I filed. Turned out the system had flagged a really hard pothole hit from weeks earlier. I had to get a written statement from a mechanic confirming the damage was consistent with a single fresh impact. That alone basically killed their argument. Definitely push back on the data — it's not as airtight as they want you to think.

Two recorded interviews with a 'higher up' the second time around? That's a classic escalation tactic. They're fishing for inconsistencies in your story, not actually trying to help you. Be really careful what you say going forward — every word gets logged. Honestly I'd stop talking to them without some kind of guidance at this point.

I used to work claims and I'll be straight with you — what you're describing is a soft deny strategy. They pile on documentation requests hoping you'll either give up, miss a deadline, or say something inconsistent. The telematics argument is sometimes legitimate but just as often it's a stretch. The storage facility message sounds like someone copy-pasted the wrong template onto your file, which tells you how much attention they're actually paying. Keep a written log of every contact, every request, every date. That paper trail matters a lot if this escalates.

A couple of things worth knowing: most states have fair claims handling regulations that require insurers to respond and resolve claims within specific timeframes — a two-week silence followed by this much pushback could actually be a violation worth noting. Also, you can file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance. You don't need a lawyer to do that, and sometimes just the existence of a complaint changes how quickly an insurer moves. It won't solve everything but it puts you on record.

Are you doing okay physically? Sometimes with sudden swerving and hard braking people brush off soreness or stiffness because the car took the visible hit, not them. Whiplash and soft tissue stuff can sneak up on you days later. If anything feels off, please see someone — and document it, because it matters more than people realize if this turns into a bigger dispute.

Not legal advice, but — two recorded statements, requests for pre-accident photos, employer verification, AND a telematics data argument all at once? That's a lot of pressure for what should be a straightforward comprehensive claim. If they deny you or lowball you, you likely have grounds to push back hard. Worth at least a free consultation with a PI or bad faith insurance attorney before you accept anything or give them more statements.

Stop doing interviews without knowing your rights first. You've already given them two bites at the apple. If they schedule a third, it's okay to say you'd like some time to review what's already been submitted before you respond further. You're not obligated to keep answering the same questions until they get the answer they're looking for.

I know this feels like a wall right now but the fact that you kept your timesheet and submitted it quickly actually puts you in a decent position. A lot of people don't document anything. You have a starting point. The mechanic statement tip above is gold — get someone to put in writing that the damage pattern matches a single-event deer strike and that there's no evidence of older underlying damage. That kind of thing can flip the narrative fast.