<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE>  7
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       699,740,706                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,111,886                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,261,726                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 113,189,251                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     614,837                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,758,525                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             981,664,705                       0
<CASH>                                       1,226,986                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             950,150                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     105,383,698                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,118,719,301                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            489,436,699                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        101,228,448                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,001,380                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,571,736                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             76,302,941                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 326,194,273                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,118,719,301                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 276,643,529              93,919,207
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         42,432,029              14,515,423
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           6,116,996                 898,970
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,561,290                 432,588
<BENEFITS>                                 202,977,277              67,192,826
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 41,709,622              14,049,617
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        23,120,546               8,342,438
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             58,946,399              20,181,307
<INCOME-TAX>                                18,546,209               6,528,037
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         40,400,190              13,653,270
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                40,400,190              13,653,270
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.99                    0.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.99                    0.33
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             120,504,956                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        186,643,961                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (3,260,929)                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         119,359,506                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            52,556,985                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            131,370,315                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        


</TABLE>