Hang gliders fly at much faster speeds than a Paraglider. To begin with, we don't jump off anything. Paragliders are usually launched by running down a moderate slope with the glider inflated until you are lifted off your feet. The wing maintains its aerodynamic form with internal pressure resulting from forward flight. Paragliders can stay aloft when the rising air currents are greater than the descent rate of the wing and have performance similar to some hang gliders.
All adventure sports carry risks.
To operate safely in any kind of aviation environment one must strive at all times to minimise those risks. The most important pre-requisites to learning to fly safely are pilot attitude, competent instruction, and safe equipment. The modern paraglider is a sophisticated aircraft that has been computer designed, flight-tested and certified to an international standard. On-going research, testing and development ensures that paragliders are sophisticated in design and very safe. This varies between makes, models and exchange rates, but a middle of the range canopy and harness will normally cost somewhere in the region of R14000.00 to R18000.00.