<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           126,631                 112,294
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0
<EQUITIES>                                           0                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 126,631                 112,294
<CASH>                                             700                   5,798
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                 867                     743
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           1,501                   1,559
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 170,945                 142,997
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 97,269                  61,069
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             13,027                  13,580
<POLICY-OTHER>                                   5,570                   5,116
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  2,461                   4,875
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        29,451                  28,976
<OTHER-SE>                                      23,167                  29,381
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   170,945                 142,997
<PREMIUMS>                                      81,392                  81,043
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              7,714                   6,821
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               1,046                     399
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0                       0
<BENEFITS>                                      75,294                  55,543
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     13,974                  11,658
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            11,369                  11,616
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (11,031)                   8,669
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (3,950)                   2,870
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (7,081)                   5,799
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (7,081)                   5,799
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.59)                    0.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.59)                    0.48
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  61,069                  49,256
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             78,520                  60,265
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                               11,444                 (4,394)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              25,448                  23,529
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                28,316                  20,529
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 97,269                  61,069
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>