<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 7
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995             JUL-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995             SEP-30-1995
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       560,162,481                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        3,927,431                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          4,205,239                       0
<EQUITIES>                                  82,686,790                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                   1,053,404                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,865,333                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             820,299,098                       0
<CASH>                                       2,584,991                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      92,411,412                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             943,983,479                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            385,384,152                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         87,945,796                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               8,789,416                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        7,967,440                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            105,058,491                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 264,710,271                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               943,983,479                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 231,651,934              78,511,269
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         37,936,906              13,373,023
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           1,423,826                 254,146
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,994,153                 782,239
<BENEFITS>                                 175,535,028              59,363,447
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 35,208,635              12,009,091
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        22,208,536               6,855,242
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             40,054,620              14,692,897
<INCOME-TAX>                                12,255,589               4,246,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         27,799,031              10,446,797
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                27,799,031              10,446,797
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .68                     .26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .68                     .26
<RESERVE-OPEN>                              88,207,011                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        164,271,956                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                           (6,011,207)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         104,791,546                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            41,371,628                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            100,304,586                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>