Is it worth traveling 300 miles for court if a traffic citation MIGHT be dismissed? How long do points stay on a NC drivers license?

I had an accident out of state. I stopped at an intersection and saw no cars coming in either direction. As I eased into the intersection another car hit me at a high rate of speed. I was found to be at fault and charged with failure to yield when crossing roadway. However, the other driver was arrested for DUI and having an open container. He refused a breathalyzer. The officer stated that he must issue me a citation because I had a stop sign and the other driver did not. The officer said there was a chance that the ticket would be dismissed if I appeared in court, since the other driver was arrested. He said it totally depended on which judge I was assigned, but he would agree if the judge was willing to dismiss it. How will the citation affect my license? Should I go to court or just pay the ticket?