<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           159,122                 159,122
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0
<EQUITIES>                                       6,050                   6,050
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 170,621                 170,621
<CASH>                                           8,884                   8,884
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           2,909                   2,909
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 236,767                 236,767
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                124,826                 124,826
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             22,764                  22,764
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              253                     253
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     92                      92
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            64                      64
<OTHER-SE>                                      76,452                  76,452
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   236,767                 236,767
<PREMIUMS>                                      40,783                 106,012
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              2,437                   6,610
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               1,784                   1,731
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   1,091                   3,081
<BENEFITS>                                      32,997                  96,531
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     10,954                  29,507
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                87                     594
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,057                 (9,198)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       423                 (3,854)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,634                 (5,344)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,634                 (5,344)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.26                  (0.85)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.25                  (0.85)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 102,316                  71,390
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             32,849                  89,692
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                  148                   6,839
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               8,795                  20,033
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 9,912                  31,282
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                116,606                 116,606
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>