If you've gotten a traffic ticket, and you don't think it's justified, don't just pay the fine and move on. If you believe you were in the right, you need to fight it. You need to go to court. However, before you go to court, you need to make sure you're properly prepared. Taking the right steps will help ensure a positive outcome for you. Here are three important steps you should take before you go to court:

Know When to Fight the Details

When it comes to traffic tickets, you need to know when to fight the details. While all the information regarding the violation are included on the citation itself, some of the details will hold more weight in court than other.

Opinion

Details that would require the police officer to make assumptions, or provide personal opinions, should be disputed. This type of detail includes things unsafe lane changes or driving at an unsafe rate of speed. If your citation involves this type of details, you'll want to fight the charges in court. You may be able to argue that your lane change was safe under the current traffic conditions, or that your rate of speed was comparable to what other cars were traveling at.

Mistaken Facts

If you were given a traffic citation, and you weren't aware of the violation, the officer may have mistaken facts on the citation. For instance, if you ran a stop sign, but the sign had been removed, you may be able to argue that had no way of knowing that you'd run the stop sign.

Bring Your Own Evidence

When it comes fighting a traffic citation, it's important that you bring your own evidence. The officer that gave you the ticket will use the citation as their evidence. However, you have the right to present your own evidence, and you should. Some evidence that you should bring will include pictures of the area where the ticket was issued, as well as statements from anyone who may have witnessed the events leading up to your citation.

Hire an Attorney

If you're going to be fighting your ticket in court, you need to give yourself the best chance of success. The best way to do that is with legal representation. Sit down with an attorney to discuss your legal options. Your attorney will be able to go to court with you, which will help improve your chances for a positive outcome.

Contact a company like Tolbert & Tolbert, LLP for more information and assistance.