<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
       
<S>                             <C>                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                         3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998                  MAR-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        71,312,157                   73,191,850
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                            0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                            0
<EQUITIES>                                 170,514,965                  107,492,159
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                            0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                8,206,367                    6,690,905
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             254,056,129                  189,338,085
<CASH>                                         690,143                      989,618
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0                            0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      13,617,162                   12,802,028
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             293,890,089                  226,628,145
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             74,493,758                   52,048,449
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         45,487,384                   42,469,597
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                            0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                            0
<COMMON>                                    11,524,002                   11,466,107
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                            0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                            0
<OTHER-SE>                                 135,990,029                  103,556,491
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               293,890,089                  226,628,145
<PREMIUMS>                                  22,248,261                   20,360,470
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          2,295,831                    2,147,302
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             896,552                      345,694
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  26,945                        6,727
<BENEFITS>                                  13,063,083                   12,838,408
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    569,779                      176,286
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         7,154,463                    7,371,157
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              4,680,264                    2,474,342
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,219,723                      434,005
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          3,460,541                    2,040,337
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                            0
<CHANGES>                                            0                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,460,541                            0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.31                         0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.31                         0.18
<RESERVE-OPEN>                              71,472,338                   47,702,363
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                          6,285,595                    5,667,845
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                            6,777,488                    7,170,563
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                           1,642,894                    2,123,081
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                             8,398,769                    6,369,241
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                             74,493,758                   52,048,449
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                            0
        

</TABLE>