Well, I wouldn't land on your shoulder too hard. You can break a collarbone like that and its a common cycling injury. I'd prefer to use my glove on the ground (if possible).

My last fall on the bike was maybe two years ago. I talked to a cop before the intersection. I forget what about (maybe an alternate route for a closed street?). Then I pull up to the intersection. The light changes to green. I start out with my left foot already in the pedal and my right foot on the ground. I push forward with the left leg and try to clip-in my right foot. It's not clipped in yet and I try to pedal with my butt out of the saddle. My right foot slips off and I go down in a spectacular fashion. My bar turned on the way down and I scraped my chest with the bar end. So moral of this story is to keep your gleuteus maximus IN THE SADDLE when starting out with clipless pedals. Then if you don't engage the pedal with the cleat its no big deal. Just coast and try again...