Neglecting a Common Cause

See Common Cause.

Ignoring a Common Cause

See Common Cause.

Common Cause

This fallacy occurs during causal reasoning when a causal connection between two kinds of events is claimed when evidence is available indicating that both are the effect of a common cause.

Example:

Noting that the auto accident rate rises and falls with the rate of use of windshield wipers, one concludes that the use of wipers is somehow causing auto accidents.

However, it's the rain that's the common cause of both.