<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 7

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000             JUL-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       910,192,669                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          800,019                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            833,296                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 123,202,340                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     246,522                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                2,070,787                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,297,692,247                       0
<CASH>                                      10,555,264                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           3,652,486                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     146,927,538                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,498,755,534                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            647,645,778                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        127,568,689                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,904,469                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        5,583,559                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            148,992,581                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 407,437,646                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,498,755,534                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 320,882,760             108,670,976
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         54,203,573              19,513,026
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           5,023,687                (595,068)
<OTHER-INCOME>                               2,049,296                 499,850
<BENEFITS>                                 226,944,195              79,140,882
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 49,054,008              17,051,736
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        33,935,534              12,241,040
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             72,225,579              19,655,126
<INCOME-TAX>                                21,227,398               5,842,374
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         50,998,181              13,812,752
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                50,998,181              13,812,752
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.30                     .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29                     .35
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             146,439,100                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        215,149,421                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (14,447,027)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         147,760,293                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            48,240,404                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            152,668,044                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>