Corrected entry: In the scene at the custom car shop, Lori hits a lever that causes the black van to drop down on the car lift. Those lifts have special devices within the lift rails that prevent that kind of situation from happening. When she hit the lever, the car may have dropped a couple or a few inches but not drop almost all the way back. The safety mechanisms would have engaged instantly.
fiveonfridays
1st Sep 2009
Correction: Pretty close, but the safeties have to be engaged to prevent it from falling, and not all mechanic shops do that, instead relying on the hydraulic pressure to hold the rack up. If the safety hasn't been engaged, or is faulty, the lift can still fall all the way down. I've unfortunately seen it happen.
rswarrior