Yeah, when my parents first gave me a sewing machine, I was afraid to use it. So I got sewing lessons. :P Never managed to hurt myself with a sewing machine, and it's been twelve or thirteen years now. I've managed to hurt myself with most of the rest of my sewing tools, but not the sewing machine...

If you do get a sewing machine, there are some sewing machine stores that offer free "get to know you machine" classes when you buy a machine from them. :)