Raleigh once marketed bikes with lower bottom brackets as their "Safety" and "Safety First" line. I guess they were thinking of lower bicycles and not pedal strikes. I coast in the turns with the appropriate pedal up, but there's a litany of things that can go wrong with even a basic ride, whether it be pedal strike or something else. It is good you have no permanent injuries. You're right about the helmet. It's probably time for me to convert to wearing one too. I have one on the way on order.