One way to look at it: The force will be the same no matter how you fall, what you can decrease is the pressure.

Pressure = Force / Area

For the same force, landing on just your wrist = small area = large pressure = ouch. Landing on a bigger cross-section of your body, say your whole side or leg or forearm = larger area = lower pressure = less ouch. i.e. punching someone, and then grabbing a tootsie pop with the stick pointed out between your fingers and punching them again.


Another way to look at it: You could increase the time it takes you to stop by skidding/rolling instead of trying to stop yourself immediately by bracing with your hands/feet/etc.

Force x time = change in momentum

In either case your change in momentum is the same, riding to stopping, but if you increase the time it takes you to stop, the force needed to stop you is less. i.e. an airbag vs. the steering wheel or a safety net vs. the ground.

Glad you're OK. Now you get to go shopping!