the young, elderly and smaller individuals can get a broken bone from a goose being startled and falling over

That's the real cause here.

If you stand your ground and show that fucker who outweighs the other 3 to 1 or more and doesn't have hollow bones, it won't bowl you over.

Those flappy fucks caught hands somewhat often when I was a kid, they always tried to steal my bread when Mom took me to feed the ducks (and yes, I know how bad that is, I was like 8-12).