In first person, a heavy hit or trip carries your view with your body, lowers the held tool and shows the bracing arms. The free hand reaches first to catch you, with its fingers opening as it reaches, while the tool hand keeps its grip.
Falling backward keeps your own face out of view and returns you to standing with less camera kick. A forward trip can still land the hips before the hand, and the wrist of the tool hand can still jitter, which is being worked on.
