I have the impression (which could be wrong) that motorcycle accidents often result in paralysis from spinal injuries, although some also die, while cyclists just die, or suffer broken limbs, fractured bones, head trauma, etc. Not saying no cyclists become paralyzed after accidents, but seems less?
On motorcycles, paralysis from spinal injuries is often caused by sissy bars (bar breaks passenger's back) or skidding on the back on the ground digs into the spinal column (that happened to my cousin when she was 19).
At the speeds most cyclist travel, we only get road rash.