Here's a dissenting view on the inevitability of death or injury. I've ridden around 80,000 miles in the last 14 years commuting in LA, commuting in NYC, and all over Europe, and I've never been in an accident (knocking wood as I write this). I've tipped over once on the bike, at a bizarrely off-camber stop sign at the Sausalito exit from 101 southbound just before the Golden Gate Bridge. That was more of a Roadrunner cartoon moment, verrrry slowly falling over, minimal damage (one scratch) on a naked R100GS. My first bike, which I rode to my MSF course, was a BMW R80RT (800cc), a fully equipped (and slow) touring bike that I bought for around $2500 (you can still buy them for about as much).

I would say that I've been lucky - I've had a few close calls, but the close call/accident ratio is pretty high on 4 wheels too. A major factor is probably that I didn't start riding until my late 20s, due to parental prohibition in high school and poverty after. By that time, I'd gotten a lot out of my system - I'm not into racing or stunting anymore, I just like to ride. I agree that your awareness has to increase on a bike - ride like everyone's out to get you. Interestingly, for me at least, my brain seems to automatically shift to a higher state when I'm on a bike. I'm not oblivious in a car, but I'm definitely more aware on 2 wheels. There are a lot of riders in my local club, some of whom ride 20,000+ miles/year in a 6 month riding season (wealthy retired BMW types, mostly). There's maybe one accident a year, or none, between 75-100 of us.

Riding's a lot of fun, and it is entirely possible to ride safely and avoid major injury for decades. Don't be scared off from the sport - just be very aware, and focus on safety, and your odds improve drastically. If you're not at that point in life - God knows I wasn't at your age - it might not be the worst thing to set it aside for a few years until you are.