Do your prep work before court
IL
If your situation was like mine, I would urge you to carefully examine the ticket and see just what they are citing you for. In my case, they had the WRONG code number down and if I had been so stupid as to plead guilty just to avoid a court appearance, I would have been guilty of leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death! In other words, like a real hit-and-run where you leave bodies lying in the street. In fact, it was only a very minor, unattended car scrape, which was another code number. (Actually, I did not have the option of pleading, I HAD to appear.)
I found out this problem by getting online to a web site where the state laws were explained section by section. I was a bit concerned that when I pointed out the error (one digit) the judge or someone else would whip out a pen and change it! But that didn't happen. Maybe someone on the forum can help you find a site where your state laws are posted.
The second thing that I was prepared to argue was that there was never any claims filed on this supposed damage. The other party didn't file with my insurance company, and I certainly never did.
When I went to court, after a wait of several hours listening to many cases of DUI, no insurance, no license, driving drunk with suspended license, causing accidents and injuries, or all of the above, I was not quite so nervous. A few of the cases had lawyers-whom they obviously just met-but most did not, like me. There was never any judge in the room. Two Prosecutors called the cases up to a table and they were extremely polite to everyone, even friendly banter a bit. I told what had happened--I did not know anything had been damaged, and the other vehicle was definitely unattended and parked wrong-- and the print out about the wrong law being cited. My case was dismissed right away.
In my state, when you get a ticket the officer takes your license and you have nothing to show , except the ticket, if you need to show your license. This is embarrassing, inconvenient, and very stressful. It had been 3 months since I had no license. So I about danced over to the window to retrieve my license when the man said I was dismissed!
I don't know if your case will turn out like this, but don't get too stressed. (I was a wreck myself.) There will be repeat offenders of serious driving crimes there. The most that might happen is you will have to pay a fine. If it is big, you might be able to even arrange payments. You will not be put in jail, or humiliated. You will have a chance to tell your side, and even if they decide against you, if will all be over shortly. Good luck - and thanks for the opportunity to tell my little court saga!
