From your post it sounds like you have no intention of getting an instructor so all bets are off high or low wing.
Trainers are easier to fly for a novice but far from crash proof. A low wing plane will be much less forgiving.
An instructor will save you time and money.
As far as crash causes? You read alot about mechanical and electrical problems causing a crash, most of these claims are BS. people have a tendency to blame anything other than themselfs and veteran pilots are even worse.
Yes these things have caused crashes but not as often as they are blamed for.