Gear to protect against hand injury in a crash I commute to work a few miles on my bike in the city.  Today someone walked out in front of me and I squeezed the brakes too hard and went over the handlebars.  I suffered a mild elbow fracture because I put my arms out in front of me and the palms of my hands are destroyed.  

I started thinking, I have had several incidents while commuting (mostly in snow or on leaves) and I almost always get hand injuries as a result.  I'd like to get gloves that protect my hands.

But:


I don't want the gloves to make injury to elbows, arms, head, scaphoid, or anything else greater.  That is, they shouldn't stick to the asphalt too hard nor slide too much (I think...I'm open to suggestion)
They should be comfy to ride.  I can have a separate pair for winter and summer riding.
I'd prefer if they were tough enough to withstand a few falls without taking too much damage.
I'm always on roads and bike paths, so asphalt is the only landing consideration.


I'm not sure what kind of stuff to get.  Cycling gloves seem like they are mostly leather and it seems like they would be damaged from a fall like I just had.  Motorcycle gloves seem heavier duty and have more protection, but I don't know how they would have affected this situation.  That is, I'm very glad my hands are hurt and face/head/shoulders are fine.

Is damage to wrists or scaphoid bone a serious concern?  If so, are there good gloves for that?  I'd love some suggestions.

Edit: BTW My commute is only like 20 minutes each way per day.  Long distance issues are not of concern for me.
Thankfully I never ride without gloves. The light weight gloves with padded leather in the  palms is all you need - they are cheap, comfortable and effective - what more could you ask for. I had a crash after my bike was tampered with and the front wheel fell off. I am a programmer, and although I emptied the company first aid kit of dressings, and could not walk properly or bend my elbow for days, I could still type. Had I not been wearing gloves, I would have been off work for weeks.  

As I see it, if you damage the leather enough to make the gloves unserviceable, and walk away - keep walking - straight to you lottery shop. Leather is tough and slide - in my case the gloves, which took the full impact of my fall, had no visible damage - unlike my shoulder, elbow and hip.... 

Wearing big heavy gloves might protect you hands, but downhill riders and motorcyclists that wear these also wear full face helmets and body armour - unless you do the same you will come off and although your hands will be fine, the rest of you won't be. 

Any bone damage is a problem - if you don't want it, don't fall off. You can learn to fall to minimize injury - downhiller riders are the masters of this, question is - can you be bothered as the only real way to learn is to do it.... You could wear body armour but its no guarantee.....  

Edit: 
Since writing this many years ago, I have taken up Martial Arts with my children (I am over 50). The techniques taught have helped enormously in a couple Mountain biking falls I have had, including one where I went 'over the bars'.