<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                              7
       
<S>                                  <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1996           DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                       JAN-01-1996           JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                         DEC-31-1996           DEC-31-1995
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                   79,279,962            35,640,019
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           0            33,415,757
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             0            33,693,837
<EQUITIES>                             18,814,702            28,704,546
<MORTGAGE>                                      0                     0
<REAL-ESTATE>                           3,918,512             3,999,404
<TOTAL-INVEST>                        108,311,406           100,678,691
<CASH>                                  4,112,441             1,499,829
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                        466,480               817,681
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                  4,541,520             6,351,976
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        167,098,331           168,460,349
<POLICY-LOSSES>                       106,794,069            86,636,481
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                    31,339,850            36,295,661
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  0                     0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           0                     0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                         4,900,000             6,330,000
<COMMON>                                  658,902               658,902
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                     0
<PREFERRED>                                     0                     0
<OTHER-SE>                                      0                     0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          167,098,331           168,460,349
<PREMIUMS>                             56,712,187            72,293,513
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     5,000,496             4,904,755
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                      1,909,211             1,100,200
<OTHER-INCOME>                          1,195,274               858,404
<BENEFITS>                             48,717,274            42,061,265
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>            12,309,853            12,691,206
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                    5,913,502             4,437,794
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       (14,029,197)             (595,447)
<INCOME-TAX>                             (917,000)             (956,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   (13,112,197)              360,553
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0                     0
<CHANGES>                                       0                     0
<NET-INCOME>                          (13,112,197)              360,553
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               (2.19)                  .06
<EPS-DILUTED>                               (2.19)                  .06
<RESERVE-OPEN>                         67,095,000            48,928,000
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                    28,934,000            29,066,000
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                      19,783,000            12,995,000
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                      4,513,000             5,057,000
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                       23,273,000            18,837,000
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                        88,026,000            67,095,000
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                         0                     0
        




</TABLE>