We show that if a compact set $E\subset \mathbb{R}^d$ has Hausdorff dimension larger than $\frac{d}{2}+\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{8d+4}$, where $d\geq 3$, then there is a point $x\in E$ such that the pinned distance set $Δ_x(E)$ has positive Lebesgue measure. This improves upon bounds of Du-Zhang and Du-Iosevich-Ou-Wang-Zhang in all dimensions $d \ge 3$. We also prove lower bounds for Hausdorff dimension of pinned distance sets when $\dim_H (E) \in (\frac{d}{2} - \frac{1}{4} - \frac{3}{8d+4}, \frac{d}{2}+\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{8d+4})$, which improves upon bounds of Harris and Wang-Zheng in dimensions $d \ge 3$.