I'm so sorry you had that experience. From the description, it seems to me that faulty brakes played a key role. One of the things that new cyclists don't realize is that there will be problems. Look at the motorized road users. Every car has at least one incident a year - maybe it's a flat tire, a scratch in the parking lot or unfortunately an accident, but something always happens. It's the same with cyclists - it's not a question of whether you'll have an incident during the year, but how serious it will be. You might be forced to push your bike for a couple of kilometers due to a flat tire, you might scratch your elbow, and in rare and unfortunate situations you might get seriously injured. However, the benefits of cycling on a personal and global level are such that this should not turn anyone away from cycling. Just choose a place that suits your current experience and - enjoy! Confidence will come with time!